The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has concluded no charges are warranted after an Edmonton police officer fatally shot a woman during a wellness check in December 2023.

ASIRT released its findings Wednesday, saying the officer’s use of force was lawful, proportionate and necessary. The woman, referred to as the affected person (AP), was shot inside her apartment on Dec. 6 after she reportedly reached for what appeared to be a firearm. The weapon was later identified as a BB gun.

Police were dispatched after staff at an addiction recovery centre grew concerned about the woman’s safety during a phone call. Officers forced entry into her suite after getting no response. Inside, she was found lying in bed and initially complied with officers’ requests, but later mentioned having a gun. When the BB gun was revealed, officers issued multiple commands for her to keep her hands up.

ASIRT said the woman reached for the gun, prompting one officer to fire his gun while another simultaneously deployed a conducted energy weapon. The woman was declared dead shortly after.

While ASIRT found inconsistencies in the officer’s report, it ultimately concluded the officer believed on reasonable grounds that lethal force was necessary to protect himself and his colleague.

“There are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed,” wrote Assistant Executive Director Matthew Block.

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