Note: This story contains details about a minor who was shot and killed in an altercation with police and may be distressing for some readers.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has cleared two officers of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy with cognitive delays in Wetaskiwin a year ago.
“While these events are tragic, that does not make them criminal,” stated ASIRT acting executive director Matthew Block in his decision released on Nov. 6, 2025.
ASIRT’s investigation included RCMP communication recordings, security video footage and interviews with the responding officers.
“Evidence … provided sufficient information to determine whether the force used by the subject officers during this critical incident was reasonable,” states the report.
Samson Cree Nation resident Hoss Lightning-Saddleback was shot by police after he had called 911 for help at 12:38 a.m. on Aug. 30, 2024.
Lightning-Saddleback had been reported missing out of an Edmonton group home previously that month.
When he called police, he said he was being followed and people were trying to kill him.
When the first responding officer located Lightning-Saddleback, the youth was initially cooperative with police, according to RCMP.
He voluntarily turned over a shoulder bag to be searched but maintained possession of a backpack and fanny pack.
The officer reportedly located a machete in the shoulder bag and the teen turned over a knife from the fanny pack.
The officer was unable to contact an adult family member the teen could stay with after several attempts “over an extended period” (at least 31 minutes).
When the member told the youth he would have to apprehend him under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and take him to a group home, Lightning-Saddleback’s demeanour allegedly changed.
He no longer consented to his bags being searched and refused a pat down.
According to ASIRT, the youth then put his hand into his backpack and raised it, imitating he was holding a gun and pointing it at the officer before running away.
The officer requested backup, stating Lightning-Saddleback had “pretended there was a gun in his backpack.”
The officer said he hadn’t seen a firearm but the experience was “a little harrowing.”
The member drove in the direction the youth had ran, arriving in a nearby field.
He reportedly saw the youth walking towards him with his hand inside the backpack, held straight out towards the officer.
The officer gave numerous commands for Lightning-Saddleback to stop and show his hands, and retreated to the rear of his vehicle while still giving commands for the youth to show his hands.
The report further details the youth could be heard over captured audio, saying “shoot me” twice.
The first officer yelled, “Don’t f****** do it” and “I will f****** pop you” twice as the youth moved down the passenger side of the police truck.
According to ASIRT, Lightning-Saddleback didn’t comply, but kept coming towards the officer.
A second officer had arrived and was stopped behind and to the right of the first police vehicle.
ASIRT stated that despite repeated commands to show his hands, Lightning-Saddleback continued walking briskly while holding the backpack outwards in the direction of both officers.
When Lightning-Saddleback reached the rear side of the first police vehicle, ASIRT reports both officers shot at the youth multiple times at approximately 1:21 a.m.
The report indicates shots continued to fire for up to four seconds after the youth had fallen to the ground.
Lightning-Saddleback was handcuffed and then emergency medical aid was given. At first, he was unconscious but still breathing.
He was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy determined Lightning-Saddleback had died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
A later search of the backpack found no firearm. Thirteen shell casings were located at the scene.
Based on the rounds left in the magazines, the first officer fired his weapon nine times and the second officer shot eight times.
When the officer first located Lightning-Saddleback, the youth’s age and his cognitive delay was communicated to him, according to ASIRT.
“Further information from CPIC indicated that (Lightning-Saddleback) had a cognitive delay and operated at the level of a nine-year-old,” the report states.
Block determined Lightning-Saddleback intended the two officers to believe he had a firearm and the officers’ responding use of force was proportionate.
He further noted that the first officer’s initial responses were restrained, by not shooting when Lightning-Saddleback first imitated he had a firearm, and when he took cover behind the police truck rather than engaging.
Once the officer’s cover was reduced, “it was necessary for him to respond with his gun,” said Block.
“Any other lesser use of force would have exposed him to being shot.”
Block said it’s not reasonable to expect an officer who believes he is about to be shot to act in a perfectly calm and rational manner.
He also stated an officer isn’t required to fire only once or a few times before stopping to reassess a threat.
Both officers had reasonable grounds to believe their lives were in danger and they acted to protect themselves, Block concluded.
“There are therefore no reasonable grounds to believe that either subject officer committed a criminal offence.”
In a press release following the shooting, the RCMP stated they would be undergoing an independent review process regarding the incident, including including police training, policy, and response.
In a Facebook post after Lightning-Saddleback’s death, his aunt said the teen was already scared when he’d called police for help.
“If you all knew him the way his family and friends did then you would know he was no threat just a scared young boy walking alone trying to go home,” she said.
Read more on Red Deer Advocate
