Sask. watchdog seeks witness to fatal police shooting of man in Prince Albert - Action News
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Sask. watchdog seeks witness to fatal police shooting of man in Prince Albert

Prince Albert police would not originally say who had the gun or who fired it, but said it happened during a confrontation between police and a man.

Identity of 34-year-old victim has not been released

Police tape blocks off a police investigation in a parking lot.
The Prince Albert Police Service said an 'officer-involved shooting' happened at about 10:40 pm CST on Jan. 16, 2023, on the 400 block of South Industrial Drive. (Pratyush Dayal/CBC)

Thepolice watchdog agency investigating Prince Albert police'sfatal shooting of a man says it is looking to speak with a woman believed to have witnessedthe incident.

Thenewly formed Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team(SIRT) said Friday that it continues to investigate the fatal shooting.

According to a previous release announcing SIRT's investigation,an officer with the Prince Albert Police Service was carrying out an unspecified investigation inthe 400 block of South Industrial Dr. when they encountered the man at approximately 10:40 p.m. CST on Jan. 16.

"During the course of the encounter, a short foot pursuit ensued, and a confrontation occurred during which one member of the PAPS discharged their service pistol, striking a 34-year-old man," the release said.

The man was given first aid by police and paramedics before being transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Prince Albert policeinformed the public about the incident shortly after the incident, calling it an "officer-involved shooting" but providing few other details. Policewould not say at the time whose gun it was or who fired it, but said it happened during a confrontation between police and the man.

SIRT said Friday that it has nowreviewed video evidence from the area of the shooting and is looking to speak to a woman who may have witnessed the incident. It saidthe woman was driving a2010-2011 Ford Focus in the area of 400 South Industrial Dr. at the time of the shooting.

The vehicle is pictured below.

A 2010-2011 Ford Focus is picture in a photo released by Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT).
Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is seeking the driver of this 2010-2011 Ford Focus, who they believe could be a potential witness to the fatal shooting of a man by Prince Albert police. (Submitted by Serious Incident Response Team)

So far, SIRT's efforts to identify the licence plate have been unsuccessful. SIRTis now asking the witness or anyone who knows them to call SIRTat 306-933-6342 or emailsirt@gov.sk.ca.

SIRT has confirmed it recovered a weapon from the scene, but would not provide any more information about what type of weapon or any more details about the identityof the victim.

WATCH| An investigation into an 'officer-involved' shooting after a man was killed

An investigation into an 'officer-involved' shooting after a man was killed

2 years ago
Duration 2:01
Prince Albert Police Service won't say who had gun, who fired it, age of victim

An Indigenous community liaison has been appointed to the case, the Justice Department said.

No further details have been released regarding the identity of the victim, butSIRT'smandate says anIndigenous community liaison must be appointed if the victim of a serious crime was of First Nations or Mtis ancestry.

According to Prince Albert police Chief JonathanBergen, this is the fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in the police force's history.

SIRT says a final report on the shooting will be made public within 90 days of its investigation ending.

With files from CBC's Scott Larson