RCMP gunfire killed Kugluktuk woman in Yellowknife March 14: coroner

The Northwest Territories’ coroner’s office has identified a woman shot dead by RCMP in Yellowknife early March 14 as Karen Algiak Lander, 42, originally of Kugluktuk.

At about 1:30 p.m. March 14 police responded to a Yellowknife residence to investigate a report of a suicidal woman.

Lander, who suffered from mental health problems, had barricaded herself in the house and was armed.

A crisis negotiator was brought to the scene and was in contact with her for several hours. Just after 6 p.m., she left the house with a long-barrelled gun and walked toward the officers, RCMP said.

Oficers told her to put down the firearm and surrender. She refused and pointed the gun at officers, police say.

Police officers then fired.

Lander was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

An external police organization has been asked to conduct an investigation into the shooting, as per RCMP protocol.

with files from Postmedia News