Police and investigators outside the scene of the shooting in Okotoks, Alberta.
A southern Alberta man was crouching on one knee and pointing a dark-coloured umbrella at police before he was shot dead by an RCMP officer early Sunday, says the group that investigates serious incidents involving police.
Police also found "written materials" in the 39-year-old man's home suggesting he wanted to kill himself, said Clifton Purvis, executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
Four uniformed RCMP officers were responding to a domestic assault complaint at the home in Okotoks, south of Calgary, on Saturday evening, when they were confronted by a man with a shotgun, said Mr. Purvis. The man was the only one inside the house at the time.
An armed-standoff began and the RCMP's Emergency Response team was called in about three hours later. Negotiators tried unsuccessfully for about an hour to defuse the situation and Mr. Purvis says the man then suddenly burst from the home.
"Once outside the residence, he crouched down on one knee and raised what at the time was believed to be a firearm. He was in the process of turning and aiming towards a member of the emergency response team, who shot six times, striking him numerous times," he said.
"The investigation revealed the item the deceased pointed at police was not a firearm and in fact was an umbrella."
The umbrella was dark, just under a metre long, and had a silver tip on its end.
Paramedics worked on the wounded man at the scene but he died in hospital. A search of his home revealed five long-barrelled firearms, all of which were lawfully registered, Mr. Purvis said.
"Also discovered at the scene was written material believed to have been authored by the deceased," he said. "After having considered the contents of this written material, ASIRT is investigating the possibility that the deceased intended suicide when he engaged the police."
Officials have not released the victim's name, but the town's deputy mayor identified him as Corey Lewis, the husband of town councillor Naydene Lewis.
"You certainly don't expect anything to happen to people who are close to you," Ralph Wilson said Sunday.
The Okotoks town website says Naydene Lewis and her family came to the town from Calgary almost five years ago. It says she grew up on the coast of British Columbia and "longed to raise her family in a small town."
Mr. Wilson said Naydene Lewis has four children, ranging in age from about five or six up to their teens. He added he knew Ms. Lewis well but had no hint that anything was wrong, or what might have led to the standoff.
"None, not at all. We talk regularly at council meetings and share home thoughts at times and this came out of the blue," Wilson said.
Fellow Okotoks councillor Beth Kish said she, other council members and the town are all offering their support.
"It's a sad situation. The phone lines have been buzzing between all our council colleagues. We're all very saddened by the news and are worried for Naydene and her children. But they're safe and well and we're glad for that."