ASIRT continues investigation into Yukon RCMP shooting

Under terms of an agreement between the Alberta and Yukon governments, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating a fatal shooting involving the Yukon RCMP. 

On Jan. 27, 2026, the Yukon RCMP activated its Emergency Response Team, (ERT) to find and arrest a man wanted on outstanding warrants for firearms offences and other matters. 

At approximately 12:10 p.m., officers located the man’s vehicle near Sawmill Road, just off the Alaska Highway in an area south of Whitehorse. ERT members went to the area and developed an arrest plan. However, the man drove away and got onto the Alaska Highway before officers could move in to arrest him. 

ERT officers then used deliberate contact with the man’s vehicle, causing it to leave the road and become stuck in a snow‑filled ditch. Officers provided verbal direction to the man, who remained in the driver’s seat. Instead, the man tried to free the vehicle, causing the tires to spin at high speed. As this was going on, officers fired chemical munitions, distraction devices, and less‑lethal rounds toward the vehicle to try to prevent the man from fleeing. 

At approximately 1 p.m., the man got out of the vehicle. An incident occurred, and the details of that encounter are still under investigation.  The officers first tried using a less-lethal projectile launcher before firing their service firearms and wounding the man. 

Officers immediately moved in to provide emergency medical care and recovered an imitation firearm from the ground near the man.  EMS arrived and took over treatment of the man, who died at the scene. 

ASIRT’s investigation is ongoing. Investigators continue to seek people who may have witnessed any portion of the incident or may have relevant video recordings. Please contact ASIRT at 780‑644‑1483 to assist. 

ASIRT operates within the Police Review Commission, an independent, civilian-led agency that investigates criminal allegations and public complaints involving police services in Alberta.  

ASIRT independently and objectively investigates cases that result in death, serious injury and serious or sensitive allegations involving police in Alberta, and has an agreement with the territorial government to investigate these types of incidents involving police in Yukon.