Officer shooting man in Thompson last year was ‘necessary and justified’: IIU

Manitoba’s police watchdog has determined an RCMP officer’s decision to shoot a man in Thompson last year was “reasonable, necessary and justified.”

BACKGROUND: Man shot by RCMP charged with assault in alleged knife-wielding incident; family says there was no weapon

Thompson RCMP say they were serving legal documents to a resident in an unrelated matter on Oct. 25, 2021 when they were told of a man with a knife in the area.

Police say the man approached an officer with a knife in his hand. The officer then shot him once in the abdomen.

The incident was caught on video and widely shared on social media.

The man was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. He was later charged with assault on a police officer with a weapon, two counts of assault with a weapon on civilians, and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.

His family at the time alleged there was no knife on his person, and that the shooting was an unnecessary use of force.

WATCH: Family of man shot by RCMP in Thompson seeking justice (Oct. 28, 2021)

In its report issued Tuesday however, the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) concluded the shooting was “necessary to prevent the injury or death to himself or anyone in the vicinity.”

The IIU says the officer attempted to resolve the situation without the use of force, but was required to in order to “protect the public from threats to their safety.”

The province’s police watchdog says it interviewed one witness officer, nine civilian witnesses and the victim of the shooting. It also reviewed the victim’s medical records.

The officer who fired his weapon declined to be interview, but the IIU reviewed his notes, reports and a prepared statement.

The watchdog also reviewed dispatch audio, multiple video recordings, physical evidence and more.

“(The officer’s) decision to discharge his service pistol was made when all other attempts to negotiate with (the man) failed and the risk of grievous bodily harm to him was real and substantial,” concluded the IIU report.