The investigation by Alberta’s police watchdog has determined that the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Indigenous youth, identified as Hoss Lightning by family members, in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, was not a criminal act. Two RCMP officers who discharged their firearms during the incident will not face charges.
The incident, which occurred on August 30, 2024, involved Lightning, a member of the Samson Cree Nation from Maskwacis, located approximately 20 kilometers south of Wetaskiwin. The tragedy deeply affected his community and added to the series of Indigenous deaths involving law enforcement that prompted calls for a national inquiry.
According to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigation report, the RCMP officers fired at Lightning as he approached one of them in a field, holding his arm in a manner that suggested he was carrying a gun in his backpack. Despite handing over a machete and a knife earlier, no firearms were found on Lightning.
ASIRT’s acting executive director, Matthew Block, emphasized that while the events were tragic, they did not constitute criminal behavior. The report concluded that the officers could argue that their use of force was necessary for self-defense in the given circumstances.
In response to the report’s findings, a statement from Samson Cree Nation Coun. Izaiah Swampy-Omeasoo on behalf of Lightning’s family criticized the report as biased and contradictory. The family expressed continued pain, distress, and a loss of trust in the institutions meant to ensure public safety and accountability.
The ASIRT report revealed that Lightning had called 911, reporting that he felt threatened and believed he was being followed. The first responding officer, aware of Lightning’s cognitive delay, found him near a McDonald’s, where Lightning disclosed his possession of a machete and knife.
Despite attempts to contact family members and arrange for Lightning’s care, the situation escalated when Lightning refused a pat-down and appeared to reach for a gun in his backpack. Subsequent events led to a confrontation that resulted in the fatal shooting of Lightning by the RCMP officers.
The report highlighted the challenging circumstances faced by the officers in a dark environment with limited visibility, indicating that their actions, including the continued firing after Lightning fell, were deemed reasonable given the perceived threat.
Following the shooting, emergency medical assistance was summoned, and Lightning was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The tragic incident has underscored the complexities and challenges faced by law enforcement in high-pressure situations involving vulnerable individuals.
A candlelight vigil held in Wetaskiwin in memory of Lightning drew around 150 attendees, reflecting the community’s grief and the ongoing efforts to seek justice and accountability in the wake of the tragedy.