On Thursday, March 16, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Edmonton, Alberta, where a 16-year-old shot his mother and two police officers before taking his own life. According to the Associated Press, the young male suspect wounded his mother with a firearm before fatally shooting two police officers who arrived at an apartment building on a domestic dispute call around 12:47 a.m. Unfortunately, there was no indication that the officers were able to return fire.
The mother was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition but later listed in serious but stable condition. Other officers sent to the apartment found the young man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The two deceased officers were identified as Travis Jordan, 35, and Brett Ryan, 30. Jordan had been with the Edmonton Police Service for 8 1/2 years, while Ryan had served for 5 1/2 years. Ryan was remembered as a pillar of the community and a longtime youth league hockey referee. He was a paramedic before becoming a police officer and was passionate about his work in the police. Jordan was known for his kindness and went above and beyond in his job. He was remembered for cleaning off a citizen’s car instead of issuing a ticket for a broken snow brush.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences and support for the officers’ loved ones and colleagues. He acknowledged the bravery of police officers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep people safe, noting that the tragedy reminded everyone of the reality of the risks they face.
This is not the first time that the Edmonton Police Service has lost officers in the line of duty. In 2015, Constable Daniel Woodall, a hate crimes investigator, was shot numerous times while using a battering ram to enter a residence. Another officer, Sgt. Jason Harley, was struck by a round that penetrated his body armour but survived. Before that, Constable Ezio Faraone was shot to death while responding to an armed robbery in 1990.
The incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers police officers face in their line of work. It is also a reminder of the importance of gun control and the need to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of minors. The tragedy is a call to action for lawmakers to take the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Canada, a nation where hunting is popular, has one of the highest per-capita rates of gun ownership in the world, with an estimated 34.7 firearms for every 100 people. However, compared to its southern neighbour, Canada has a lower rate of firearms-related incidents.
This is attributed to strict gun ownership laws that require background checks, licensing, and registration of handguns and most semi-automatic weapons with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Gun owners are also required to keep their firearms locked and unloaded, and there are no laws allowing for open carry. While Canada appears favourable compared to the heavily armed United States, some gun control advocates argue that more needs to be done to address gaps in the system when compared to other democratic countries.
