Officers cleared of wrongdoing in June 2025 Ermineskin Cree incident

Police believed they knew the caller based on an earlier interaction with that person via the Maskwacis RCMP non-emergency line.

During the earlier call, the person reported concerns about her son, indicating, ASIRT says, that he had been yelling, screaming, and possibly engaging in self-harm. Officers attended the location, but no further action was taken.

However, officers were made aware by dispatch that the person of concern had a documented history of violence and was bound by a firearms prohibition.

When officers later arrived at the home, in two unmarked police vehicles, the suspect was already outside, as was his common-law spouse.

As officers parked, at 2:39:10 p.m., the spouse went inside, while the suspect walked toward the officers and is said to have positioned himself near the steps leading into the home. He appeared to be holding a long object in each hand, according to the report.

The suspect began to point the object toward officers, then took out a second object and held it in his other hand.

Officers repeatedly told him to drop the objects, then shortly thereafter realized — they thought — that he was holding a gun.

One officer then discharged three rounds from his service pistol, and this was said to be just 19 seconds after officers arrived.

Despite commands to drop the gun, the man took cover, but then reappeared still holding it. The same officer then fired approximately six more rounds — again, just six seconds after the initial three.

Dispatch was advised of shots fired, then another five rounds were fired 11 seconds later.

The officer announced he had to reload his firearm, then the suspect was observed advancing towards the officers.

Officers retreated, and just seven seconds later, the second responding officer fired seven rounds at the suspect.

The suspect then entered the passenger seat of the unmarked police vehicle, and at 2:39:59, less than a minute after police arrived, the first officer fired a final volley of 13-15 rounds.

The suspect then exited or fell out of the vehicle and remained lying on the ground.

He was then flown by air ambulance to the University of Alberta Hospital to undergo surgery.

Per the report:

Witness Officer #1 recovered what appeared to be a metal pipe from the ground near the [suspect]. A yellow shotgun shell was also observed nearby. Witness Officer #1 subsequently removed a second cylindrical metal object from the front passenger seat where the [suspect] had been seated, along with two spent projectiles. As he secured the items in his police vehicle, Witness Officer #1 commented that he was uncertain what the objects were. In response, Subject Officer #1 stated, “It looked like a gun, did it not?” and Witness Officer #2 replied, “It was a gun, it’s 100% a gun!”

Per the report, Witness Officer #1 recovered a pipe, a metal tool, and an unfired 20-gauge shotgun cartridge on the passenger side of the police vehicle where the [suspect] was seated. Pictured are the objects in the [suspect’s] possession at the time of the shooting. (Image Credit: ASIRT)

The pipe was later identified as a cut section of a commercially manufactured shotgun barrel, while the tool appeared to be a steel axle from an unidentified machine, the report says.

The report goes on:

The items … were determined to constitute an improvised firearm, commonly referred to as a “pipe gun.” Firearms analysis confirmed that the device met the definition of a prohibited firearm and was capable of discharging the 20-gauge shotgun cartridge recovered from the passenger side of the police vehicle.

ASIRT later interviewed the man at the centre of the investigation.

He claimed he had been returning outside to continue repairing a motorcycle located at the base of his front steps when a truck carrying four people arrived. He noted they were dressed in plain clothes and immediately pointed firearms at him.

He added to investigators that because he did not recognize them as police officers, he took cover behind his vehicle. He also alleged that the people began firing at him and that some rounds struck his home where his family — including his spouse and four kids — was situated.

He went on to say that once inside the vehicle, he attempted to raise his hands in surrender when he was struck by two gunshots — one in the arm and one to his hand.

He would go on to describe the items in his hand as a motorcycle sprocket, adding that he could not think of a reason the police would’ve been called to his home that day, and that he was not holding a pipe gun when the altercation went down.

He concluded by noting he had woken up with several teeth missing, a wrist injury, and that medical records showed he had sustained 10 gunshot wounds, with three bullets still in his body.

The report concludes by noting that an offence has not been committed by an officer if they believe on reasonable grounds that force is being used or threatened against them or another person.

“The subject officers’ use of force was proportionate, necessary, and reasonable. As a result, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence was committed,” ASIRT states.

Alberta RCMP confirm the man in this incident is Sonny Threefingers, who is now 37. He is currently facing charges related to the incident and has been appearing in court in Wetaskiwin.

The full report from ASIRT can be read here.

by Josh Hall

Officers cleared of wrongdoing in June 2025 Ermineskin Cree incident

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