Safety always ‘top priority’: Calgary police chief addresses Rosedale active shooter situation

An active shooter situation unfolded on Thursday in the area of the 500 block of Crescent Road N.W.

Calgary’s police chief is praising the co-ordinated efforts of her officers and responding agencies during Thursday’s active shooter situation.

The incident, which occurred along Crescent Road N.W., ended with no bystanders hurt.

Police were tracking a wanted individual who they said opened fire on a home in the northwest Calgary community of Rosedale while residents were inside.

The suspect then went inside another house and opened fire on police officers, police said.

According to police, the suspect was with a woman, and they refused to give themselves up.

Residents along Crescent Road N.W. were advised by police to shelter in place while the incident unfolded.

Police told them to “stay inside and lock their doors.”

Roads were shut down, and first responders were on standby.

Rosedale resident Curtis Atkinson, hunkered down in his home, called it “unnerving.”

“It becomes very, very scary and invasive for people that haven’t done this before or aren’t used to it,” he said.

“We all have kids.”

Atkinson also praised police for their response.

Police Chief Katie McLellan said in a videotaped statement issued on Friday that the incident in Rosedale posed “significant safety risks to our officers and to members of the community.”

“I am extremely grateful and relieved that no members of the public or emergency services personnel were injured,” she said.

“I want to thank our members and our agency partners for their expertise and professionalism (and) I want to thank you, the community, for your patience, co-operation and trust.

“In events like this, our top priority is always the safety of our community and our emergency services personnel.”

Police said the incident was resolved when the woman surrendered and was taken into custody and the suspect was found dead inside the home.

The incident lasted from shortly after 3:30 p.m. to shortly after 7 p.m.

Canada-wide warrants were out for the suspect, who police said was on the run for weeks and cut off his ankle monitor.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which is the province’s police watchdog, has been contacted.