No charges will be laid against three Halifax Regional Police officers in the death of a man who accidentally shot himself in the head while running away from the officers.
Police responded to reports of a gunshot fired in the area of Blowers Street in downtown Halifax around 4:45 a.m. on Feb. 9.
The officers approached the suspect and his two friends. While the suspect’s friends complied with the officers’ directions to stop, investigators say the man ran down Blowers Street onto Barrington Street.
A foot chase ensued and the man fell to the ground after firing a gun he had been carrying in his waistband.
Investigators say the round struck him in his right ear. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.
The medical examiner determined the gunshot had been fired from very close range and the cause of death was ruled to be an accidental gunshot.
The case was turned over to Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team, which is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in the province
SIRT has determined the officers had reasonable grounds to detain the man, and video of the incident confirmed they had no contact with him before his was shot by his own gun.
As a result, no charges will be laid in the case.
