Johnathon Gardiner was 34 at the time of his death last Monday. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Police response

Île-à-la-Crosse man identified as person shot during confrontation with Prince Albert police

Jan 19, 2023 | 1:08 PM

paNOW has learned the person shot this week during a confrontation with police in Prince Albert was a 34-year-old man from Île-à-la–Crosse.

Johnathon Gardiner’s (Daigneault) funeral is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in his home community.

According to an obituary listing posted to social media, Gardiner is survived by his wife, three children, and his fur baby Luna. Family members have declined comment.

On Jan. 16, around 10:40 p.m., police were called to the 400 block of South Industrial Drive.

Not much else is known at this time with respect to the reason for the call, or if Gardiner was armed, only that a confrontation with police took place and during the altercation, a firearm was discharged.

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Gardiner was treated by EMS and transported to hospital, but was later declared deceased.

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is currently investigating and has promised to release a public report when they are done.

A thick line of yellow police tape surrounded a parking lot. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

During a media conference on Tuesday, Prince Albert’s police chief Jon Bergen assured media the organization will assist independent investigators in any way they can. Bergen also confirmed the incident has had a big impact on the entire organization.

“No police officer ever wakes up, puts on the uniform, and wants to be faced with the most difficult decision we will ever have to make as a police officer,” he said.

The incident Monday marked the city’s fourth police-involved shooting. The last one was in 2013 when police shot Ryan Natomagan who possessed a knife.

A public inquest was held the following year and at the conclusion, the jury did not have any recommendations for people or institutions to enact to prevent future deaths of this nature.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell