Fatal shooting of 15-year-old Wetaskiwin boy not criminal: police watchdog

Alberta's police watchdog has cleared two RCMP officers in the death of 15-year-old Lightning Saddleback last year.

More than a year after the shooting death of a 15-year-old Indigenous boy in Wetaskiwin, Alberta’s police watchdog is not recommending charges.

Hoss Lightning-Saddleback was fatally shot by two RCMP officers in the early hours of Aug. 30, 2024.

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According to Alberta’s Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), Lightning-Saddleback called 911 shortly before 12:30 a.m., reporting that he was being followed by a group of people who wanted to kill him.

About 15 minutes later, a Mountie located the teen in the area of 56 Street and 37A Avenue in Wetaskiwin.

Lightning-Saddleback told the officer that he was scared and in possession of a machete and a knife, which he voluntarily surrendered along with a backpack and fanny pack, said ASIRT’s report.

The officer attempted to contact the teen’s family but was unsuccessful. Lightning-Saddleback was then apprehended to be taken to a group home.

ASIRT said Lightning-Saddleback’s demeanour changed at this point. Before the officer attempted to apprehend the teen, he put his hand inside the backpack, raising it straight toward the officer’s face as if he were holding a gun.

The officer told Lightning-Saddleback to stop several times. The teen then ran away.

Lightning-Saddleback was located walking out of the tall grass in a nearby field toward the officer, who commanded him to stop and show his hands.

ASIRT said the teen was “walking with purpose” with the backpack held out in front of him.

The officer retreated to his vehicle while continuing to tell Lightning-Saddleback to stop and show his hands.

A second officer had arrived at the scene, and as Lightning-Saddleback approached closely at the rear corner of a police cruiser, both Mounties shot him multiple times, said the report.

Police administered medical aid until EMS arrived and transported Lightning-Saddleback to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

A search of the backpack found no firearm.

“While these events are tragic, that does not make them criminal,” said ASIRT’s decision.

The police watchdog said officers were defending themselves as they thought Lightning-Saddleback had a gun.

“There are therefore no reasonable grounds to believe that either subject officer committed a criminal offence,” said ASIRT.

Lightning-Saddleback was a member of Samson Cree Nation in Central Alberta.

Members of the nation called for the resignation of the RCMP officers involved in the case.

A statement from the Nation said the decision doesn’t surprise them.

“A systemic-racist body investigating another systemic-racist body will produce the same results: injustice in all its forms,” said the Nation.

They said Lightning-Saddleback is remembered as a child, grandchild, nephew, brother and friend.

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