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Police video reveals new details in shooting death of 15-year-old Alberta boy

Sep. 6, 2024, Edmonton, Alta. – Video from police cruisers has revealed new details about a shooting by officers that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy south of Edmonton.

“The officer’s in-car video system captured both audio and video of the interaction,” said the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which released a description of the video Thursday.

The boy died early Friday in Wetaskiwin, Alta., after first calling police for help, saying he was being threatened.

The police watchdog said a single officer located the boy, since identified as Hoss Lightning of Samson Cree Nation.

“The youth and the officer spoke about the situation and the youth handed over a machete and knife,” the watchdog said in a release.

It said the officer decided the teen was at risk and tried to apprehend him and search his backpack. After initially co-operating, the boy ran away.

Several officers then searched for the boy and found him in a nearby field.

“The officers approached and got out of their vehicles,” said the release. “At this point a confrontation occurred and two officers discharged their firearms. The youth was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground.”

The boy died later in hospital.

The shooting has drawn calls for reform from Samson Cree First Nation. Izaiah Swampy Omeasoo, a family spokesman and band councillor, said the two officers should resign, adding the RCMP needs better de-escalation training.

Opposition NDP legislature members Brooks Arcand-Paul and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, who are Indigenous, issued a joint statement calling for a thorough investigation and a commitment to structural police reform.