Nova Scotia’s police watchdog is looking into a shooting involving RCMP officers that led to the death of a man from the Sipekne’katik First Nation on Tuesday morning. The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has confirmed that their investigation is linked to an emergency alert issued early Tuesday regarding an armed man driving along a rural highway in Hants County.
Authorities stated that the Sipekne’katik RCMP received a call at 8:35 a.m. on Tuesday regarding a disturbance at a residence in the Sipekne’katik First Nation. The individual was reported to possess a firearm and make threats before departing in a Honda Civic.
An emergency alert was subsequently issued to Hants and Colchester counties around 9 a.m. local time, warning about an armed man driving along a rural highway in Hants County. Residents in the area were advised to seek shelter, remain indoors, and secure their doors and windows. Local schools were also placed on hold and secure status by the police.
SIRT mentioned that officers managed to locate the man and deflate the car’s tires using a spike belt. Following unsuccessful non-lethal measures, officers discharged multiple shots. Despite life-saving efforts by officers and paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Earlier reports from the RCMP had indicated that the man was under custody.