No Charges After Police Involved Shooting

USPA NEWS - A tragic incident in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia has undergone a thorough investigation, and authorities have reached their conclusion. The police watchdog (SiRT) has cleared the officer's use of deadly force.

On October 14, 2025, RCMP responded to a 911 call about a disturbance on Cedar Lane. When officers arrived, they encountered a woman in distress who was armed with a large knife. Despite orders to drop the weapon, she allegedly advanced toward officers in a threatening manner.

Initially, officers utilized a taser twice, but it proved ineffective. The woman persisted in advancing. One officer urged her to relinquish the knife, but she declined to cooperate. The officer subsequently discharged their firearm, striking her in the leg. She continued to advance, prompting the officer to fire again, hitting her in the chest. Officers promptly administered life-saving measures, and the woman was transported to hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) undertook a comprehensive investigation into the shooting. SiRT Director Erin Nauss determined that the officer acted reasonably under the circumstances and found no reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence had been committed.

According to Nauss's report: "Based on a review of the facts and the law, I am satisfied that the subject officer acted reasonably to stop a major threat. The circumstantial evidence supports the perception that there were reasonable grounds to believe the threat to her life and the lives of other officers and civilians was at risk." The investigation also noted that self-defence laws are equally applicable to police officers as they are to civilians.