REGINA — A nearly two-year investigation by Saskatchewan’s police watchdog has concluded that two Regina police officers acted lawfully when they shot and killed a 65-year-old man who opened fire on a patrol vehicle.
On May 26, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) said no charges will be filed against the two Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team members who discharged their service firearms during the confrontation in west Regina.
The man, whose name hasn’t been released, died at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the torso.
Confrontation unfolds after neighbour complaints
According to SIRT’s public report, the incident began when Regina Police Service (RPS) officers responded to multiple complaints from neighbours who alleged the man had been damaging their property over several days. One caller reported that the man had removed a section of fence and went into their yard with a chainsaw. Neighbours also said that the man had previously threatened to stab their dogs.
When officers first went to the man’s home on May 18, 2024, he wasn’t home. The next day, after receiving another complaint, officers returned and made contact.
Police knocked on his door and he responded saying, “unless you have a search warrant and I am under arrest, you can get the [expletive] off my property,” before slamming the door. He then told officers, “If you do not get off my property, I will come outside and shoot you.”
Threats escalate, SWAT team deployed
Believing the threats were credible, especially after database checks confirmed he held a valid Restricted Purchase and Acquisition License (RPAL), owned a Sig Sauer P320 handgun, and had a prior conviction for assault with a weapon, officers backed away and contained the home.
Gunfire exchange
At approximately 3:35 p.m., with the home still contained, the man emerged from his front door holding a handgun. Standing on his front step, he fired several rounds, striking a marked RPS patrol vehicle parked outside.
In response, two SWAT team members each fired a single round from their service firearms. One round struck the man in the torso, and he collapsed at the base of his front step.
An armoured rescue vehicle was driven onto the lawn, and SWAT members pulled the man behind it so that staged Tactical EMS personnel could provide first aid. He was pronounced dead at 3:41 p.m.
Investigation findings
SIRT’s investigation, which included interviews with 18 police witnesses, 10 civilian witnesses, and both subject officers, who voluntarily provided statements, determined that the officers had lawful grounds to arrest the man for mischief and later for uttering threats.
The report said that investigators recovered several additional firearms from the man’s home, including a shotgun and two rifles, along with ammunition and a handwritten will left in an accessible location.
The report said that there was a possibility the man’s gunfire may have been an “attempt to provoke police action rather than an immediate attempt to injure or kill,” it concluded that “given the totality of the circumstances and the speed at which those actions occurred, there was no reasonable way for police to have determined the affected person’s true intentions.”
The decision
Civilian Executive Director Greg Gudelot, who signed the report dated May 21, concluded that the officers’ use of force “falls within the range protected by law." Given that there were no grounds to believe an offence was committed by the officers, SIRT’s involvement was concluded.
The report also said that both officers were under no legal obligation to provide statements but they did voluntarily.
“Evidence directly from a subject officer, when voluntarily provided, is often invaluable as it can assist both with the factual determination of what occurred and provide evidence of the subjective beliefs and perceptions of the subject officer,” said the SIRT report.
