No charges against police officer involved in fatal 2022 Dartmouth shooting

Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team says no charges are warranted against a police officer who shot a man in Dartmouth in 2022.

Last Aug. 27, Halifax Regional Police members responded to a 911 call in relation to a weapons complaint. A cab driver said that a passenger had refused to pay a taxi fare and then pointed what appeared to be a shotgun at him.

When officers arrived at a home on Carleton Street, a man stepped out outside onto the front stairs, according to a news release from SIRT issued Tuesday.

The statement said police attempted to de-escalate the situation and asked the man to come forward with his hands up; he did not comply and went back inside.

In an interview with The Chronicle Herald three weeks after the shooting, the man’s daughter identified him as Terry Riche, 64.

Moments later, the man returned to the front steps with a shotgun. When he raised the gun, one of the officers, fearing for his personal safety and the safety of others, fired his service weapon, striking the man with a single shot, the SIRT report said.

A witness told The Chronicle Herald after the shooting that helmeted officers dressed in black uniforms and carrying assault rifles were everywhere.

In her interview last September, Sarah Riche said her dad wasn’t a violent man and she found it difficult to believe he’d point a gun at a police officer.

“My father’s not a stupid man,” she said. “He knows that if he’s going to raise a weapon to an officer then it’s over.”

She said her dad worked as a naval engineer with the Department of National Defence in Halifax.

The SIRT investigation found it was reasonable for the officer to conclude his life was in danger and the use of his firearm to shoot the male was justified in the circumstances; therefore, no charges are warranted against the officer.

A complete copy of the report is available through SIRT’s website.

SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian director Alonzo Wright, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.