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Alberta Capital Reels After Shooting Leaves One Police Officer Dead, Another Wounded

The incident shook Edmonton mayor Don Iveson, who spoke of the fallen officer's family. "I feel this most deeply as a father of young children. And I'm incredibly sad for them."
Photo by Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

The mayor of Edmonton, Alberta fought back tears Tuesday morning as more details emerged about a shooting that claimed the life of one police officer, wounded another, and left the suspect dead among the charred remains of his house.

In total, 53 bullets were fired out of an west-end home Monday night, after a failed attempt by officers to execute a warrant related to criminal harassment allegations against Norman Raddatz, the 42-year-old owner of the house.

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The officers knocked and when no one appeared, they began to enter, only to be met with a barrage of bullets fired from a high powered rifle, according to Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht.

Constable Daniel Woodall, 35, was hit multiple times and suffered a "catastrophic wound", Knecht said at a press conference Tuesday.

Sgt. Jason Harley was hit in the back, but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest.

The EPS did not return fire and the remaining officers had no choice but to take cover from the high powered rounds. No officer made it through the door.

The incident shook the mayor, Don Iveson, who spoke of the fallen officer's family at the press conference.

"As your mayor I reflect the sadness that I feel in the community, but I feel this most deeply as a father of young children. And I'm incredibly sad for them, and for Mrs. Woodall," he said. "They shouldn't have to experience what they're experiencing."

He went so far as to suggest "that the loss of the gun registry may be related to this" and that "every opportunity that our police have to have knowledge of where firearms are in the city would be to their advantage, and the chiefs of police have been consistent to that."

Federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay called the mayor's comment "ill-timed, unhelpful and absurd", according to The Canadian Press.

Iveson has since apologized on Twitter, saying that his comment was premature.

It was Edmonton's first police fatality in 25 years.

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Contrary to a report in the Edmonton Journal, police said they have no evidence that Raddatz was involved with the Freeman on the Land movement.

Shortly after Raddatz fired upon the officers, a fire broke out in the house, burning it to the ground. It is unknown what caused the fire, but it is believed that Raddatz's remains were found among the wreckage.

Raddatz was known to police but didn't have an extensive police record, and Knecht said that there was no perceived threat to police before the incident took place.

He said a lengthy hate crime file, with evidence dating back to February 2014, led police to Raddatz's door.

"The online hatred and bullying of an Edmonton family had become extreme," Knecht said at the press conference. "The family members were increasingly worried about their personal safety at which time the Edmonton police service became involved."

Woodall was with the EPS for eight years and prior to moving to Edmonton had been an officer in Manchester, England. He was described by Knecht as a "keen investigator, a dedicated father and husband, and a passionate soccer supporter" who had a strong sense of humor and was dedicated to the force.

After responding to a vandalized synagogue in January of this year Woodall, who was a member of the force's hate crimes unit, was recorded saying, "No organization, establishment or individual should be victim to this type of crime."

After the incident there was an outpouring of support for the EPS and Woodall, with Edmontonians leaving their porch lights on to "light the police's way home."

Follow Mack Lamoureux on Twitter: @macklamoureux