N.S. Mountie shoots suspect in leg after responding to report of man with axe

A suspect was injured Thursday after a Mountie fired their gun while responding to a call about a man wielding an axe and making threats in Upper Malagash, N.S.

Cumberland district RCMP said in a news release the suspect was arrested and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The matter was referred to the province's Serious Incident Response Team, an independent oversight agency that investigates serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia.

RCMP said they were called to a home Thursday around 7:30 a.m. AT on Highway 6 and told an armed man was threatening people he knew.

SIRT confirmed it is investigating the incident and added details it said came from the agency and RCMP.

It said the suspect was allegedly holding an axe when located by officers at the back of the home. 

One of the responding officers deployed a conducted energy weapon, or stun gun, "which was ineffective," SIRT said. 

The agency said the same officer then fired their gun, striking the suspect in the leg.

No one else was hurt in the incident.

RCMP said they cannot release further details about the incident while it is under investigation by the police watchdog.

The RCMP release noted "there does not have to be an allegation of wrongdoing" in order for SIRT to investigate.

SIRT has three months to file a public report on the incident once its investigation is concluded.