Man shot by Calgary police after producing a BB gun that looked like a real gun

BB Pistol with CO2 cartridges and BBs. Hustvedt / Wikimedia Commons.

CALGARY—A man who was a resident at an assisted living complex for single men with mental health and addictions issues was shot and killed by police.

Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson says the officer involved in the shooting at Lanigan Place has been on the force for the last four years.

Hanson said officers knocked on the door of the man’s apartment early Friday morning.

The chief says the man opened the door and produced what appeared to be a firearm and that’s when two shots went off.

Hanson was limited in what he could say because of the investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which investigates police shootings.

ASIRT acting executive director Susan Hughson said a realistic-looking BB gun was found near the man’s body.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that a Carl Walther Model PPK/S BB gun was located near the deceased man,” said Sue Hughson.

One resident told police he was being threatened by another person with a gun. Police couldn’t say what prompted the threats as the two men weren’t well known to each other.

No officers were injured.

Residents told Global Calgary that it wasn’t the man’s first conflict with other residents.

They say he was released from hospital about 1 1/2 months ago but add he was “too sick” and should not have been discharged.