A woman has been charged in connection with a shooting incident in a Calgary neighbourhood last week that resulted in residents sheltering in place for several hours.
The incident began last Thursday when a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant removed an electronic monitoring device, according to Calgary police. Officers were trying to safely arrest the man who police say had a history of violence.
The suspect and a woman got out of a vehicle on Crescent Road NW around 3:40 p.m. and then proceeded to shoot at a home before trying to get inside, police say.
After failing to get into the first home, the pair allegedly broke into another nearby home.
The CPS Tactical Unit arrived and contained the house. It is alleged that the suspect fired several shots at responding officers from inside the home.
Investigators say neither the man nor the woman had any ties to either of the homes they tried to break into.
Police issued a shelter-in-place order for area residents in the Rosedale and Crescent Heights communities after the suspect started firing shots into homes and at officers.
At around 5 p.m., the woman surrendered to officers and was arrested at the scene. Police eventually found the man dead inside the house a couple of hours later.
The shelter in place was lifted around 8 p.m.
Police are now confirming the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No other injuries were reported.
The provincial police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), was asked to review the incident, but Calgary police say they will retain handling the investigation.
“Individuals with violent histories and ties to organized crime pose serious risks to public safety, and this incident highlights how volatile situations can become,” says CPS Staff Sgt. Ben Lawson in a statement. “These suspects are often determined to avoid capture, which can lead to unpredictable and dangerous situations.”
The woman, a 32-year-old Calgary resident, has been charged with one count of break and enter. She will next appear in court in October.