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RCMP kill armed man
Police say man was wielding weapon and uttering threats

Jeanne Gagnon
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, March 22, 2012

IGLULIK
Police in Iglulik shot and killed an armed man Tuesday evening, and Nunavut's RCMP superintendent offered his condolences.

NNSL photo/graphic

RCMP Supt. Hilton Smee, the officer in charge of criminal operations for the V Division, offered his condolences to the people of Iglulik on Wednesday, after a police officer shot an Iglulik man during a confrontation Tuesday evening. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

The RCMP officer went to a home just before 8 p.m. to check on the well being of an adult male, police stated in a press release. Upon arrival, the Mountie was met by a man wielding a weapon and uttering threats, which led the officer to shoot the suspect, the release stated.

The wounded man received medical treatment but eventually succumbed to his injuries, said police.

"This is a tragic situation," said Supt. Hilton Smee, the officer in charge of criminal operations for the V division. "I want to take this time to express my condolences to the family and the friends and the community of Iglulik. Incidents such as this affect us all deeply and our role and commitment is to protect our communities."

The RCMP officer involved suffered what Smee described as minor injuries.

It is too early to determine any contribution factors as to what instigated this incident, said police in a press release.

The major crimes unit from Iqaluit is in Iglulik and has secured the scene until the independent investigation team, made up of the Ottawa Police and NWT RCMP, arrives in the community. An independent investigation is necessary whenever a serious injury or death of an individual involves an RCMP officer.

An Inuit Mountie will also go to Iglulik to provide the community's residents with any support they may require.

Two RCMP constables and one sergeant are posted in Iglulik.

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