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Report released regarding death of male associated with mall shooting plot
The province's independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) today released its report regarding the death of a 19 year-old-male in his home on Tiger Maple Drive in Timberlea on February 12, 2015.
On that date an integrated RCMP/HRP police unit received information that a male and female were planning a mass shooting at a Halifax mall on February 14, 2015. An investigation commenced that provided corroboration of the initial information. As a result a decision was made to arrest the male, and officers were assigned to provide surveillance at his home in Timberlea. In the evening, after his parents had left the home in separate vehicles, they were each stopped and spoken to by police. The parents each offered to go to the home and get the youth to leave with them. However, the police declined those offers due to possible risks associated with such a step.
Both parents indicated that the male would cooperate with police if called and asked to meet officers outside the home. As a result, the supervising officer made the decision to have an investigator contact the male by phone and ask him to exit the house. There he would be met by the police providing surveillance, who were non-uniformed. The male was cooperative on the phone, and indicated he was on his way out of the house. However, he actually remained in his bedroom and made the decision to end his life with a single gunshot to the head. He died immediately.
As a result of the police involvement in the matter SiRT assumed responsibility for the investigation. That investigation found that the police actions were reasonable, and that nothing they did in any way encouraged or assisted the male to take his life. Their goal was to get him to leave the home safely. As a result there are no grounds to consider any charges against any police officer.
The full report is available at http://sirt.novascotia.ca.
SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian director Ron MacDonald, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.
Media Contact:
Ron MacDonald, QC
Director
902-424-8400 (o)
902-718-9707 (m)
