Female killed in RCMP-involved shooting, watchdog says

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) said that a female suspect was killed in an RCMP-involved shooting in Eastern Passage on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, the Nova Scotia police watchdog said the preliminary information gathered in the investigation was that a woman, in her late 20s, “did not comply” with police orders to drop a weapon.

Officers were called to a home in Eastern Passage on Cedar Lane around 2:00 p.m. initially for a physical assault. When they arrived, they found a woman with a knife.

“The female did not comply with officers’ commands to drop the knife. Officers discharged a conducted energy weapon (CEW/Taser),” the statement reads.

Police then say the woman “continued to approach with a knife” at which point, an officer discharged their firearm.

The female was struck and was pronounced dead soon after.

The SiRT has taken over the investigation as a person was killed and/or injured in a police interaction, as per its mandate.

“Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation,” the watchdog said.