Skip to content

Fatality report on RCMP shooting released

A provincial judge has called for tighter firearms screening and improved police training for dealing with people mental health issues.
RCMP investigate the scene of a 2010 shooting outside an Okotoks home. A fatality inquiry has found the police were justified in shooting Corey Lewis after he walked out of
RCMP investigate the scene of a 2010 shooting outside an Okotoks home. A fatality inquiry has found the police were justified in shooting Corey Lewis after he walked out of his house into the dark in the early morning hours of July 18, 2010 holding what was thought to be a rifle. It turned out to be an umbrella.

A provincial judge has called for tighter firearms screening and improved police training for dealing with people mental health issues.

The recommendations come from a fatality inquiry report into actions of RCMP who shot Corey Lewis outside his home just before 2 a.m. on July 18, 2010.

In the report, released Monday, Judge Marlene L. Graham determined police were justified in shooting Lewis.

Lewis, 39, was shot after emerging from his home, and pointing what was thought to be a firearm at police. It turned out to be an umbrella.

His wife Naydene, an Okotoks councillor at the time, said the inquiry has answered most of her questions, but she believes the outcome could have been different if police had given Lewis more time to cool down.

“Do I think the police could’ve done things differently? Absolutely, I’ve said it for five years and I will continue to say it,” she said.

In her report, Graham said Lewis had a history of depression and mental health issues.

The judge called for stricter evaluation of firearms licence applications, including interviews with an applicant’s spouse. The judge found the firearms screening process didn’t adequately look into Lewis’ mental health history.

Graham also recommended police and Emergency Response Teams (ERT) consult with mental health professionals in standoffs involving people with mental health problems, particularly medical professionals involved in the treatment of that individual.

Graham also called for ongoing police training in dealing with people with mental health issues involved in armed and barricaded situations.

Phone calls to RCMP spokespeople were not returned before press time.

The RCMP’s counsel at the inquiry, Barry Benkdorf, stated Lewis’ death was a “tragic and unique case” and no recommendations were needed.

According to the report, Lewis arrived home from work in a bad mood on July 17, around 7 p.m., hit his son and pushed over his wife in an argument outside the home. Lewis locked himself inside the bedroom in the home after an RCMP vehicle arrived.

Police attempted to contact Lewis, but he would not respond to phone calls to the house. After 9 p.m., four RCMP officers entered the home to arrest Lewis and found him in the master bedroom with a shotgun.

The RCMP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was called in and Lewis continued to ignore phone calls to the home.

At 1:53 a.m., Lewis opened the front door and rushed out, crouched down and holding what police believed to be a rifle. An ERT member shined a flashlight on Lewis and saw Lewis turn towards approaching officers. Lewis was then shot three times.

Officers then approached Lewis, rolled him over and found an umbrella had been taped to his hands.

In her report, Judge Graham states Okotoks RCMP did its best to respond to the initial complaint and it was a prudent move to call in the ERT when they found him with a shotgun. It states the ERT offered Lewis several non-lethal opportunities to turn himself in.

The report indicates other responses, such as using an armoured vehicle, “sock rounds” and night vision, would not have been feasible in this case.

Naydene said she holds no ill will for the officer who shot Lewis.

“It was an automatic reaction for him, that’s how they’re trained,” she said. “Do I begrudge him for it? Absolutely not, they were doing their job. Corey went too far.”

Yet, she believes it would’ve made a difference if police set up additional lights around her home to improve visibility.

“Had they used their equipment to the best of their abilities, this situation could’ve resulted in not shooting him because they would’ve seen that he had an umbrella,” she said.

Ultimately, Naydene said the report answered most of her questions and the inquiry opened her eyes about the depth of Lewis’ mental health issues.

However, she said it delved too deep into what should be private matters, including information about medical history, family and police.

“The bits and pieces about family members and friends have no place in there,” she said.

She said the process to review the shooting has dragged out too long and it’s taken a toll on her family.

“It happened real quick, it ended real quick and we’re still left picking up the pieces,” she said.

Now that the report is released, she said she hopes the process is over.

She said it has been an emotionally difficult time for her family and her only interest at this point is to protect them.

In the meantime, she is asking people to respect her family’s privacy.

She has set up a go fund me account (Lewis Family Funds at gofundme.com/xxcu9zec) to help purchase a plaque for Lewis at the Okotoks cemetery.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks