A woman has died after being shot by a Calgary police officer during an early-morning welfare check in the southeast community of Legacy, prompting an investigation by Alberta’s police watchdog.
The Calgary Police Service said officers were called to a home in the 200 block of Legacy Circle S.E. at approximately 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2026, to check on the welfare of a woman inside the residence.
According to police, the woman eventually exited the home at about 2:30 a.m. carrying a weapon. The situation escalated, and one officer fired a service weapon, striking the woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The confrontation also resulted in a gas meter being ruptured, causing a gas leak in the neighbourhood. Police officers assisted with evacuating nearby residents while the Calgary Fire Department secured the area. Residents affected by the evacuation were later permitted to return to their homes.
Two police officers were also assessed following the incident. One was transported to hospital as a precaution, while another was evaluated by paramedics. Police said both officers were recovering.
Because the shooting involved a police officer and resulted in a death, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has taken over the investigation. The independent agency will examine the circumstances surrounding the police use of force and determine what occurred before and during the fatal encounter.
Authorities have not released the woman’s identity or provided additional personal information about her. Police have also not released further details about the weapon involved or the nature of the original welfare concern.
The investigation is expected to include examination of physical evidence, police communications, witness accounts and other available information. ASIRT’s investigation will be separate from any police inquiries that may arise from the broader circumstances surrounding the incident.
The shooting has left residents in the Legacy community shaken, particularly after the gas leak and evacuation added another emergency to an already serious situation.
As the investigation continues, officials are expected to provide additional information when it can be released without compromising the independent inquiry.
The woman remains unidentified publicly, and the circumstances surrounding the officer’s use of force have not been independently determined. The ASIRT investigation is ongoing.
