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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A woman shot dead by Yellowknife RCMP Wednesday evening was a distraught and loving mother who had faced some hard times and was trying to get back on her feet, said a friend and former neighbour who asked not to be identified.

What appears to be a black jacket lies next to an apparent medical bag and other unidentified articles on Dagenais Drive at the entrance to Glick Court Wednesday evening. Yellowknife RCMP cordoned off an area from Dagenais Drive at Finlayson Drive to past the intersection of Dagenais and Glick Court. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo

Karen Lander, 42, originally of Kugluktuk, was shot outside a home on Glick Court at around 6 p.m. Wednesday. At press time, police had not released the name of the deceased, however Yellowknifer has confirmed her identity with a number of sources.

Lander had exited the home while brandishing a long-barreled firearm and began walking toward police officers, RCMP stated in a news release issued Wednesday night.

"She was told repeatedly to put down the firearm and surrender but refused to do so," stated Yellowknife RCMP Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding. "On pointing her firearm at police, shots were fired."

Lander was pronounced dead on arrival at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Yellowknife police were told that a woman had gone to a friend's residence and was threatening to kill herself. Police contacted the homeowner, who confirmed that Lander was in his home and that there were firearms present.

When police arrived on scene they found Lander had barricaded herself in the home. RCMP attempted to defuse the situation, but to no avail.

"We had a critical incident team comprised of crisis negotiators, emergency response team members and we also had a mental health professional who ... assisted with initial contact with the individual," said Chief Supt. Wade Blake, commanding officer of NWT RCMP G Division, at a press conference Thursday.

Because the shooting involved Yellowknife police officers, a four-member team from the Medicine Hat Police Service, led by Staff Sgt. Brent Secondiak, is investigating the incident.

Secondiak said he expects to spend one to two weeks in Yellowknife but cautioned it would probably be several months before a final report is released, including details of the shooting.

"This is a tragic, tragic event and one that affects everybody involved, including not only the public and the families but our members," Blake said. "Police work is high risk and when presented with circumstances such as this one it affects us deeply."

Blake said he had requested the support of an aboriginal elder, who will act as an adviser and liaison between the RCMP and Lander's family.

Lander's former neighbour wondered whether police had acted appropriately in the circumstances.

"Why would they even shoot? Did they know if her gun was even loaded? Couldn't they just have stunned her or used a tranquilizer?" she lamented.

Blake said police officers are trained to use an "intervention model" that requires them to assess what level of service and support they provide in a given circumstance, as well as how best to respond to the level of threat posed when firearms are present.

He said officers would also have done a background check prior to initiating their response. Lander had previous dealings with police.

"I would not be able to second guess why the members responded as they did in this particular case," he said. "But in the use of a firearm you have to use the appropriate tool to counter a threat and, with a firearm, a Taser is not the appropriate tool."

Though officers are trained to aim for the centre of the body when shooting, "We never have an intention to kill a person," Blake said. "The intention is to stop a threat."

That may be of small comfort to Lander's friends and family, however.

"Many RCMP officers against one woman, who so loved her children ... Rest in peace, Karen," said her former neighbour.

A man living next door to the house where the shots were fired said he hadn't heard any shots, but saw police arrest a man who was trying to escape in a truck.

Winston Ernst, who lives at 3 Glick Court, estimated about 18 to 20 police officers, including a tactical unit, flooded his tiny street near Dagenais Drive and Finlayson Drive Wednesday night.

Ernst said he watched a man in a pick-up truck attempt to reverse out of the driveway next door around 7:30 p.m.

"He got backed up a little bit and then the police rammed him from behind," said Ernst. "Well, they didn't really ram him but they stopped him from going backward."

Police officers then took the man into custody.

Ernst described the man as being in his 30s with black hair and a moustache.

At 6:45 p.m. there was what appeared to be a red medical bag and a black jacket, as well as other unidentifiable articles, strewn on the street where Dagenais Drive meets Glick Court. The items were avoided by emergency responders.

Ernst said police had warned him earlier to stay inside because something was going on in the street, but hadn't given him much other information.

"It was a bit concerning, I guess," he said. "It would have been nice to know it was happening right next door. You see SWAT team guys with guns running around your house, you kinda ... We've got a two-year-old, so ..." he trailed off.

Ernst said he, his wife Julie and their young son stayed in the back room of their home for some time during the incident.

Police cordoned off Dagenais Drive at Finlayson Drive through the night Wednesday. Ernst said police called again to let his family know the situation was under control.

Blake said Thursday that the man Ernst saw was no longer in custody and had not been charged.

- with files from Laura Busch

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