Teen allegedly shoots mother, kills 2 police officers in western Canada

TORONTO — A 16-year-old boy shot and wounded his mother and killed two police officers before taking his own life in western Canada early Thursday, officials told The Associated Press.

A police official and a senior government official said the suspect shot and wounded his mother in Edmonton, Alberta. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because none were authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Earlier, Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee said the two officers were fatally shot when they arrived at a residence during a domestic dispute around 12:47 p.m. He said there was no indication that police could have returned fire.

McFee said other officers dispatched to the apartment found the young man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He said the shooter and the woman are related, without saying how or giving the suspect’s age.

The chief said the woman was in life-threatening condition when she was taken to the hospital, but was later listed in serious but stable condition.

McFee identified the deceased officers as Travis Jordan, 35, who had been with the Edmonton force for 8 1/2 years, and Brett Ryan, 30, who had been an officer for 5 1/2 years.

“I can’t tell you how devastated we are by their loss,” McFee said.

Ryan is remembered as a pillar of the community and a longtime youth league hockey referee.

Darcy Carter of the Spruce Grove Minor Hockey Association said the officer and his wife are expecting a child.

Ryan was a paramedic before becoming a police officer and was passionate about working with the police, Carter said. “That’s one thing I’ll never forget…just his face lit up when he talked about his work.”

Jordan was remembered for his kindness.

Jessica Shmigelsky said she was driving to work after a heavy spring snowfall in 2020 and Jordan pulled her over because her snow blower wasn’t working. But instead of giving him a ticket, he cleared the approx.

“He did his job and went above and beyond what his job actually entailed,” Shmigelsky said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences and support to the officers’ loved ones and colleagues.

“Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep people safe. The news that two Edmonton police officers have died in the line of duty is a reminder of this reality,” Trudeau wrote.

It’s the first homicide for Edmonton police since 2015, when Officer Daniel Woodall, a hate crimes investigator, was shot multiple times while using a battering ram to enter a residence. Another officer, Sgt. Jason Harley was hit by a bullet that pierced his armor but survived.

Before that, Constable Ezio Faraone was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery in 1990.