SASKATOON, Sask. — The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) released its report to the public on Oct. 1, finding that the force used by two Saskatoon police officers was lawful in the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man on June 20, 2024.
SIRT’s investigation determined officers were responding to a 911 call reporting that the man had fired a round from a sawed-off shotgun into the ground in Pleasant Hill, near 20th Street West and Avenue V South.
The caller told 911, at about 10:35 a.m., that the man had said he was going to shoot the caller but had realized he was the wrong person. The caller told dispatch that the man had put the shotgun in his backpack and gave his physical description.
The prior discharge of a round was also described by another witness, but physical evidence of that shot was inconclusive, and investigators couldn’t confirm the recovered 12-gauge components could function as an improvised firearm.
SIRT said the functionality of the recovered firearm components didn’t affect its conclusion because they had been identified as a firearm by the officers and civilians at the time of the confrontation.
Man identified by Louis Vuitton patterned hat
Multiple SPS units arrived in the area to locate the man with the sawed-off shotgun.
At about 10:42 a.m., two officers involved in the shooting observed the man walking northbound on the 200 block of Avenue S South, and identified him by a distinctive item of clothing, described as a black and white Louis Vuitton patterned hat.
The officers issued repeated commands, informing the man he was under arrest and to get on the ground. One officer initially drew a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW), believing the man might run.
According to both officers’ voluntary statements, the man ignored commands, reached for his waistband, and pulled out what they believed was the barrel of a shotgun, which he began to point at them. Both officers fired several rounds from their service pistols, hitting the man and causing him to fall to the ground.
At 10:43 a.m., one of the officers radioed SPS communications that shots had been fired, the man was down and had a firearm in his hand. EMS pronounced him dead at 10:52 a.m.
Evidence corroborated officers' accounts
According to SIRT’s report, the two officers’ account were consistent with or corroborated by numerous pieces of independently gathered evidence, including physical evidence gathered during the scene examination, and civilian witness evidence provided by individuals who were present during the incident.
One civilian witness said they didn’t see a gun pointed or the shooting and believed the incident involved a CEW, but video evidence questioned whether the witness was in a position to see the incident. Other civilian accounts and physical evidence supported the officers.
A makeshift weapon and bear spray were recovered from a wagon pulled by the man’s group. Shotgun components, an unfired 12-gauge shell and a folding knife were recovered near the body.
Body-worn camera, vehicle, and taxi video captured surrounding events but not the moment the man was shot.
Greg Gudelot, civilian executive director for SIRT, said the man’s “actions during the incident, namely disregarding repeated verbal commands by police and producing what would have been reasonably perceived as a firearm, are sufficient to give rise to a reasonably perceived risk of death or grievous bodily harm on the part of both” officers.
An autopsy determined the man’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology results found cocaine, alcohol and methamphetamine in the man’s blood, all falling within a range that could have caused or contributed to intoxication.
SIRT concluded the force used was proportionate, necessary, and fell within the range protected by law. It said there were no reasonable grounds to believe either officer committed an offence. No charges will be laid.
