Man dies following back alley confrontation with police in west-central Edmonton

A man is dead and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating after an early Saturday incident in a west-central Edmonton back alley.

The 50-year-old man died of a gunshot woundbut "based on the evidence available, it is not believed either of the officers discharged their service weapons,"stated anews release issued Saturday evening by Edmonton police.

The news release stated that officers were conducting a "proactive patrol" in a Canora neighbourhood laneway near 152nd Street and 102nd Avenue at about 5:45 a.m. Saturday, when they observed a man with a saw lying underneath a parked vehicle.

During the confrontation that followed, the man pulled out a firearm and one of the officers deployed a conductive energy weapon, stated the news release.

"Shortly thereafter, the man sustained a single gunshot wound," the release said.

The man was taken to hospital, where he died at about 12:40 p.m., police said.

Neither officer was injured.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday.