Police shoot, kill 27-year-old man during Highway 1 standoff near Belle Plaine, Sask.
RCMP say man died at the scene after being shot, investigation will follow
Police fatally shot a 27-year old man who allegedly pointed a firearm at officers on Highway 1 in Saskatchewan, according to an RCMP news release sent on Sunday afternoon.
RCMP said police received a report at 1:10 a.m. CST of a man was sitting in his car, uttering threats. The man drove from the Superstore parking lot in Moose Jaw and pulled over near Belle Plaine, RCMP said.
SWAT and RCMP Critical Incident Response Team were called to the scene in Moose Jaw and near Belle Plaine, where RCMP say crisis negotiators tried to verbally de-escalate the situation.
At around 6 a.m. CST, RCMP released a statement saying officers were on scene for an investigation in the area and traffic on the highway was being redirected to grid roads.
Later in the afternoon, RCMP shared further details of the apparent highway standoff.
RCMP said the man pointed his gun at officers at around 7 a.m. CST and did not comply with demands. Police shot him.
Officers began administering first aid to the man but he died on scene, RCMP said.
RCMP said the man's family has been notified and no further details can be provided due to an external investigation that must be conducted when a police-involved incident results in serious injury or death.
Along with the Saskatoon Police Service conducting this investigation, the Moose Jaw Police Service and Saskatchewan RCMP requested the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent observer in accordance with Section 91.1 of the Saskatchewan Police Act, the release said.
Highway 1 was completely reopened late Sunday afternoon.