Man dies after being shot by Regina police in alleged hostage taking with knife

Regina Police said a man died after he was shot by an officer early Saturday morning after an alleged hostage-taking.

Just before 6 a.m. Saturday, officers were called to a residence in a downtown Regina neighbourhood for what they thought was a disturbance, a news release Saturday afternoon said.

Upon arrival, officers said they found a man armed with a knife holding a woman hostage.

Police called for crisis negotiators and the SWAT team.

Then some time later, though police would not specify how long an officer shot the man. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police were unable to provide any details about the extent of injuries the female who was taken hostage may have suffered. She was taken to hospital and officers have been in contact with her, according to Regina Police Chief Evan Bray.

Bray said de-escalation techniques were used in the time between the start of the incident and when the man was shot.

"These situations are very fluid, they're very dynamic; things happen very rapidly," he said.

"Having said that there was a significant period of time between when we arrived on scene and when the incident was resolved with the use of a firearm."

Regina police are now investigating the circumstances around that call in conjunction with the coroner. Bray said there would be no third-party investigation into the matter, but there would be oversight by the provincial justice ministry.

An autopsy has been requested for the deceased man and is expected to take place on Monday morning according to Bray.

The incident happened in the 1900 block of Halifax Street where there was a heavy police presence Saturday afternoon.

Police said they have notified next of kin but will not release the name of the man who was killed.

• Inquest begins into shooting of teen

• Police insist they were right to shoot boy

Bray said it's the first time in over 20 years since a member of the Regina Police Service was involved in an officer-related death. At that time, a 16-year-old male with a knife was shot and killed by a 26-year-old officer who had one-and-a-half years of service with the Regina Police Service.