'It's pretty upsetting': Wetaskiwin reeling after boy, 15, shot by RCMP

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The shooting of a 15-year-old boy by RCMP officers has residents in the city of Wetaskiwin unsettled.

The boy, from the Samson Cree Nation, was shot after calling 911 early Friday morning.

According to a news release Friday afternoon, Wetaskiwin RCMP received a 911 call from the victim, who said he was being followed by people who were trying to kill him, around 12:28 a.m. Police caught up to the youth at 1:22 a.m. near 56 Street and 37A Avenue, on the south side of the central Alberta city.

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“It was found that this individual was in possession of several weapons, which officers were able to confiscate,” the release stated. “However, a confrontation occurred, which resulted in two officers discharging their service firearms and the individual being struck.”

The boy died in hospital.

Mayor Tyler Gandam said having a tragic incident like this happen in their small city is a ‘scary situation’ for the tight-knit community.

“We’re a city of 13,000 and your first thought is do I know them? Do I know the family? And then you hear there were weapons involved. It’s unsettling,” said Gandam.

Gandam said he has reached out to Samson Cree Nation Chief Vernon Saddleback and offered the city’s support and condolences to the family of the boy.

Postmedia reached out to Saddleback on Saturday but was unsuccessful.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the boy’s killing.

‘Scary all-around’

Investigations by ASIRT can typically take upwards of 18 months to two years to conclude, and Gandam says the community needs to stick together and support each other during this time and allow ASIRT to complete their investigation.

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“Wetaskiwin struggles with social issues already. Mental health and homelessness and members of the community carrying weapons, a situation like this is scary all around,” said Gandam.

“We have to make sure the support is there for everyone impacted by it. One of the worst things we can do is make something up and assume something. We have to understand that investigations like this take time.

“Whoever is at fault here, we have a grieving family who lost a 15-year-old, and we have a community who is grieving and they need the support, it’s a scary situation, all-around.“

‘It’s so tragic’

Helen Seibel, who works at the nearby Siding 16 Lodge, said having an incident like that happen in the community is ‘scary’ and ‘concerning’

“It happened right behind our business,” said Seibel.

“It’s pretty upsetting. Something like that doesn’t happen around our community, but the crime is definitely getting worse.”

Seibel wasn’t working at the time of the shooting, but when she came in to work her shift on Friday, she said there were officers with police dogs investigating and members of ASIRT came to speak with her asking for any video surveillance the Lodge may have of the shooting.

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“We’re all still trying to let it all sink in that this happened. It’s so tragic that this happened to a 15-year-old boy,” said Seibel.

Seibel, who has lived in Wetaskiwin for 33 years, said the crime rate has certainly increased over the years.

“I feel unsafe walking home from work at times when I get off at 11 at night. I used to never feel unsafe,” she said.

– With files from Jonny Wakefield

jhills@postmedia.com

@hillsyjay

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