On October 22, 2019, Whitehorse RCMP responded to a wellness request concerning a 48-year-old male. RCMP officers from both the Carcross and Atlin detachments made patrols.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., the officers located the male driving on the Alaska Highway (south of Whitehorse) and conducted a traffic stop. As officers approached the vehicle they observed the lone male discharge a firearm inside the vehicle. The male succumbed to his injuries and died on scene.
The Yukon Coroner has been engaged and is assisting in the investigation.
In circumstances where either death or serious bodily harm result during a police investigation Yukon Department of Justice may seek the assistance of the Alberta government and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) to ensure an objective and independent investigation into the incident. ASIRT has been requested by Yukon Government (YG) and commenced an investigation.
ASIRT is a civilian-led investigative body that will publicly report on the results of the investigation once completed. All In-custody deaths are, by policy, investigated in Yukon by ASIRT in circumstances such as this.
As the matter is now under investigation by ASIRT, no further information will be released by police until such time as ASIRT provides their concluding report.