Edmonton police link gun used to kill officers to shooting on March 12
Posted March 23, 2023 1:23 pm.
Last Updated March 23, 2023 3:44 pm.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) says the bullet casing recovered from a shooting at a restaurant on March 12 was a match to the gun recovered from the apartment where two officers were killed.
This comes after EPS and Edmonton Medical Examiner have confirmed the cause of death of the 16-year-old, who shot and killed the two EPS officers last week.
The autopsy, which was conducted Mar. 22, confirmed the 16-year-old’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, believed to be self-inflicted.
“We recognize that there is intense public interest in this investigation,” said EPS Deputy Chief Devin Laforce. “At this time, our priorities need to be the integrity of ongoing investigations, including the origin of the firearm, as well as the safety and privacy of all the families affected by this tragedy. For these reasons, we are not releasing or confirming the name of the deceased.”
EPS confirmed at a press conference Thursday afternoon, that both the officers and the suspect’s mother were shot multiple teams each before he turned the gun on himself.
They also noted the suspect did not shoot through a closed door.
Deputy Chief Devin Laforce (Photo Credit: Adam Ziccarelli, CityNews)
It is believed the 16-year-old responsible for killing the two officers is the suspect in the March 12 shooting. However, EPS says this is not confirmed.
He was also known to police, having been apprehended in November under the Mental Health Act and was taken to a hospital for assessment.
Investigators are working to determine how the teen came into possession of the gun.
“Both events have been served by robust investigations that have followed all lines of inquiry,” said Deputy Chief Devin Laforce in a statement. “All tips and other investigative avenues were pursued exhaustively by the investigating teams.”
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“At this time, investigators continue to believe that the youth’s parents, police dispatch and Constables Ryan and Jordan had no information to suggest there was a firearm in the home when the family dispute call for service was made on Mar. 16,” said EPS in a statement.
Police say the man who was shot on March 12, is still in the hospital. He is in critical but stable condition.
The mother of the 16-year-old, also is still in hospital, she is in stable condition.
“She can’t talk. And so it’s so right now, the communication has been just by written communication. Obviously, we want to continue to interview her and that’s going to happen when she’s released. She’s expecting to recover.”
Police would not reveal whether the gun used to kill the officers was a handgun.
-with file from Adam Ziccarelli, CityNews
