Man armed with sawed-off shotgun shot dead by Edmonton police

A man armed with a sawed-off shotgun was shot and killed by Edmonton police Monday night after he began fighting with officers during a traffic stop.

Police were tipped about a possible drunk driver in north Edmonton at around 9:30 p.m., said Susan Hughson, executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which is investigating the shooting.

Susan Hughson, ASIRT executive director, said the 31-year-old driver shot and killed by an officer was known to police. (CBC)

Police located the car near 118th Avenue and Abbottsfield Road. But soon after they pulled the car over, the 31-year-old driver, who was known to police, began fighting with the officers. 

During the fight, the driver, the only person in the car, was shot and killed while one of the officers was shot in the lower body.

Only one officer fired his gun, Hughson said.

The injured officer suffered serious injuries and was placed in another police car and rushed to hospital. The eight-year member remained in hospital Tuesday afternoon, but is anticipated to make a full recovery.

The second officer involved has been with EPS for 10 years.

Police Chief Rod Knecht spoke to the media early Tuesday morning about the officer-involved shooting. (CBC )​"It's one of the most dangerous things police officers do, is stop cars," said police Chief Rod Knecht during an early morning press conference on Tuesday. 

"When we stop a car, you don't know who is in the vehicle, what they have been doing or what they are planning on doing. So this is just another example of a simple traffic stop that turns into something."

An autopsy on the driver is scheduled for Wednesday.

ASIRT investigates incidents involving police in Alberta that result in serious injuries or death.