Edmonton Officers Cleared in 2022 Shooting That Killed Suspect and Bystander

Alberta’s police watchdog concluded officers acted lawfully in the fatal shooting of a robbery suspect, which also resulted in an innocent man’s death.

• The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) found Edmonton police officers were justified in using lethal force against a robbery suspect on February 23, 2022.
• The suspect, armed with a replica BB gun resembling a sawed-off shotgun, was fatally shot after pointing the weapon at officers during a foot chase.
• A stray bullet from the officers’ gunfire struck and killed James Hanna, a 59-year-old bystander inside his apartment, in what ASIRT described as an 'extremely tragic' unintended death.
• ASIRT determined the officers’ actions were lawful and reasonable under the circumstances, citing their belief of imminent harm and the split-second nature of their decisions.
• Hanna's family has filed a lawsuit against the Edmonton Police Service, alleging negligence, while ASIRT noted questions about preventability fall outside its mandate.

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