Dylan Short – Edmonton Journal
Family members have identified a man killed during an officer-involved shooting in Edmonton Friday.
Edmonton police responded to a report of a man with a weapon at a home near 118 Avenue and 69 Street around 4:15 p.m. Friday. When officers arrived they got into an altercation with a man and fired their weapons. Emergency medical services (EMS) was called to the scene where the man was declared dead.
Neighbours told Postmedia that they heard between five and seven shots followed by multiple police tactical vehicles and cruisers arriving.
Marc Kassay said he was working in his garage a block away when he heard several loud pops.
Maureen Hyde, who lives nearby, said earlier the gunshots surprised and scared her.
“Sounded like my poor neighbour’s house blew, I’ve never heard that before,” said Hyde.
Amber Reid said Saturday that her cousin, Marty Powder, was the man who was killed. Multiple posts online also name Powder as the victim of the altercation, with one post questioning why police would need to fire multiple rounds at anyone.
Reid said she had only met Powder a few times and did not know any of the circumstances that led to his death.
Police have not confirmed Powder’s identity. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been directed to investigate the shooting.
Reid said Powder was the subject of an Edmonton Police Service release in July 2019 warning that he was being released from prison and was considered a violent offender.
The release stated Powder was known to commit offences against people he knew and did not know. He was released on conditions including a curfew from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., refraining from buying, drinking or being in possession of alcohol or drugs and not being able to leave the city of Edmonton without written consent.
He was also not allowed to be in licensed premises or enter into any romantic or sexual relationships without informing his partner of his past convictions.
Neighbours said police were regularly in the area and appeared to be checking on Powder.
Lance Reid, Powder’s nephew, said Powder was trying to turn his life around and he had been doing a good job of doing so.
“He was one of the most peaceful men I knew and a real role model to look to for getting out of the street life and off drugs and alcohol,” said Lance Reid. “After his last conviction he dropped his gang ties and was living the sober life.”
The last time a person was killed in an Edmonton police officer-involved shooting was in January 2019.
Devlin Neyando, 26, died outside of an apartment near 47 Street and 101A Avenue just after 9 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2019, following what police described as a confrontation with officers.
ASIRT said Neyando had attempted to break into a Gold Bar residence prior to the altercation.
An ASIRT news release at the time said police set up a perimeter around the apartment after the attempted break-in. A short time later, the suspect emerged from the home with two knives.
Police confronted the man, and attempted to subdue him with an ARWEN — a launcher that fires a “less lethal” plastic projectile, ASIRT said.
Two police officers then fired their pistols at the man, striking him with “several” rounds. Police administered first aid until EMS arrived but he died at the scene.
