No charges for officers after innocent man shot dead in Alberta

In February 2022, officers from the Edmonton Police Service responded to a reported armed robbery at a liquor store. Upon arrival, the suspect had already fled, prompting a foot chase initiated by the officers. During the chase, the suspect turned and pointed what appeared to be a weapon at the pursuing officers. Believing they were under imminent threat, the officers opened fire, striking the suspect multiple times, who was later identified to have been wielding a BB gun. Tragically, one of the bullets went through the wall of a nearby apartment building and struck James Hanna, 59, in the chest as he sat in front of his television, leading to his death shortly after in the hospital. The incident prompted an investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which concluded that the officers acted in self-defense. ASIRT's executive director Michael Ewenson stated that the officers did not know the weapon was a fake and justified their actions based on the perceived threat of death or grievous bodily harm. The report highlighted the chaotic nature of the situation, noting that questioning whether the death could have been avoided was outside ASIRT's mandate, as these inquiries are typically addressed in different legal proceedings such as a fatality inquiry. Ewenson acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Hanna's death, declaring it “extremely tragic.” He explained that the officers had no intention of injuring anyone other than the suspect and emphasized that it was likely that a bullet fired at the robbery suspect inadvertently ended up striking Hanna. The investigation found multiple bullet entry points in Hanna's apartment, confirming the dangerous crossfire environment as police attempted to subdue the armed suspect. Furthermore, the family of James Hanna, particularly his sister Susan Bandola, expressed their anguish over the incident, describing it as senseless and lamenting that he was just starting to turn his life around after a period of homelessness. Bandola poignantly noted that, had her brother’s chair been located differently, he might not have been hit by the stray bullet. As no criminal negligence was found against the officers involved, they will not face charges for the tragic outcome of the police action that day.