An illegal border crossing into southern Alberta Tuesday morning turned deadly when the man turned the gun on himself during a police pursuit, according to authorities.
It’s one of two incidents that took place at the Coutts border crossing this week.
Mounties say the man attempted to enter Alberta around 7:45 a.m. and was referred to secondary inspection, but he fled into Canada. Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers notified RCMP, which also alerted Lethbridge police.
RCMP say the suspect vehicle was spotted near Raymond, Alta., but the driver failed to stop during an attempted traffic stop. The man then drove into Lethbridge, according to police, before travelling back to Raymond.
At one point the driver was seen holding what appeared to be a firearm, authorities say.
RCMP say they disabled the man’s vehicle using tire spikes south of Milk River, Alta, at which point he fled on foot.
“(He) was pursued by RCMP police dog services and other RCMP officers. During the pursuit, the male sustained a self-inflicted firearm-related injury and was pronounced deceased at the team,” said assistant commissioner Lisa Moreland, a regional commander with the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region, at a press conference in Edmonton Wednesday.
Alberta’s police watchdog – the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) – has been notified and is investigating.
“This event speaks to the dangers our officers and CBSA officers face at the border,” Moreland added. “It also shows just how quickly we can respond to our border when events of this nature occur.”
Mounties say the incident occurred roughly 24 hours after four adults and five children were spotted on surveillance cameras travelling into Canada – again at Coutts – with suitcases. Canadian officials were notified by the United States Border Patrol, and all nine individuals were arrested.
The RCMP say that illegal crossing took place in extremely cold conditions, and the individuals were not prepared for the Canadian winter.
“We have seen firsthand heartbreaking situations where lives of adults and children have been lost in the attempt to crossing the border,” Moreland said. “To anyone who is thinking of crossing the border, don’t. You’re putting your life at risk, and you should not attempt under any circumstances.”
At Wednesday’s press conference, the RCMP also detailed a recent border incursion in Manitoba, where six people were spotted by a plane equipped with thermal imaging and ultimately arrested in a wooded area east of Emerson, Man.