Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team has cleared a Truro police officer of any wrongdoing in a springtime shooting.
SIRT began investigating the case May 17, after an officer shot a suspect during a home invasion at an apartment on Lyman Street.
The report indicates two armed men broke into the home and confronted one of the two residents.
The second resident, who was hiding upstairs, phoned police.
According to the report, officers entered the home and spotted an armed suspect trying to escape from the back of the residence.
As he ran, a shot was fired, which police believed was fired at them.
Two of the officers ran to the back of the building where they heard the suspect breaking outan upstairs window. He then jumped onto an adjoining roof and from there onto the ground.
According to the report, the officers asked the suspect to drop his weapon several times, but he ignored their requests and began to turn toward one of the officers.
At that point, the report says the officer shot the suspect twice – in the abdomen and in the right knee. The suspect was taken to hospital and treated for his injuries.
The case was turned over to SIRT, which is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia, whether or not there is an allegation of wrongdoing.
SIRT’s independent director, Ron MacDonald, says there are no grounds to consider criminal charges against the officer who shot the suspect.
"Any time an individual is deliberately shot by a police officer, there is a need for a very close examination of all facts surrounding the matter,” says MacDonald in a statement released Friday.
“The SIRT interviewed many people and spent several months investigating this matter. In the end, I conclude that the officer was justified in using his firearm to shoot the suspect."
In July, the two suspects were each sentenced to seven years in connection with the home invasion.
