Threat to public safety in Penbrooke Meadows over: Calgary police

A 30-hour armed standoff with police came to a fatal conclusion last night at an east-end home in the Calgary neighbourhood of Penbrooke Meadows.

Police say they had an interaction with a man during the execution of a search warrant, related to an ongoing firearms investigation Thursday afternoon.

They say that is when he had barricaded himself in the house and began shooting at police. They say the individual fired more than 100 shots, but luckily, no one, police or bystander, was hit.

Ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful surrender ended Friday at around 8:30 p.m., with police citing an escalation in the unfolding situation.

They say the city’s Tactical Unit officers, along with members of the RCMP Emergency Response Team, engaged and discharged their service weapons.

One man was declared deceased at the scene. No other information has been released.

The province’s Serious Incident Response Team has been called in to investigate.

Chief Const. Mark Neufeld offered no details about the escalation or how the man died, but told a late-night news conference that public safety concerns were a factor throughout the standoff. 

“This is an unfortunate outcome, but our top priority was always the safety of the community,” Neufeld said. “We made every effort to bring this to a safe and peaceful conclusion and have employed numerous tactics and resources over the duration of this prolonged event. This includes intermittent negotiations with the individual for more than 30 hours.”

The standoff began at around 3 p.m. on Thursday when police went to the home to execute a search warrant related to a separate gun-related investigation.

Police said those not involved in the probe were able to leave the home before the man barricaded himself inside and adds no one was hurt as a result of the subsequent gunfire. 

The RCMP Emergency Response Team eventually joined Calgary Police in their efforts to resolve the standoff, and Neufeld said both local tactical unit officers and Mounties were involved when the man was shot. He declined to provide further details, noting the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is now investigating the shooting. 

“This was a tremendously dynamic situation that posed immense risk to the surrounding community and to our officers,” Neufeld said. “I’m extremely proud of the efforts of our members to de-escalate the situation and to encourage a safe, voluntary surrender.”

The standoff prompted the evacuation of some nearby homes. 

Police cited safety concerns for the order to leave, noting active gunfire made the risk level “extremely high” for both officers and the public. 

Neufeld said the investigation “will take a bit of time, adding investigators are still processing the scene. 

He asked displaced residents to monitor official police social media accounts for word on when they have the green light to return home.

Meanwhile, the area of Memorial Drive previously closed for the investigation has reopened, and volunteers with the Calgary Police Victims Assistance Support Team (VAST) are in the area Saturday.

Police also noted that those returning home may find their homes and properties damaged due to the incident, and they should notify police via the non-emergency line if this is the case.

However, officers will be visiting each home in the impacted area.