Man charged following officer-involved shooting at Vegreville bank

WATCH: Two investigations are underway after a man was shot by RCMP at a bank in Vegreville. Shallima Maharaj explains.

EDMONTON – A 22-year-old man from the Vegreville area has been charged after an officer-involved shooting in the town on Christmas Day.

The man was shot Christmas morning by RCMP officers who responded to a complaint of an ATM robbery at the TD Bank in Vegreville.

The RCMP was contacted just after 9 a.m. on Dec. 25. RCMP officers arrived at the bank and were “confronted by the male.” The RCMP said, “due to situational factors on scene, the male was shot by the RCMP.”

Officials say one shot was fired and the man was taken to hospital in stable, non-life threatening condition. In a news release sent out Friday afternoon, ASIRT said a replica firearm was recovered at the scene. The agency also said further investigation revealed the initial robbery complaint was likely false. ASIRT said the false complaint was under investigation by the RCMP.

“I was halfway through the door and I heard ‘pop.'”

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“I was scared yesterday,” she said. “Not just a little – a lot scared…I was very concerned with the people in here.

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“It went from a happy, cheerful morning to a full day of wondering what’s going on?”

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No civilians nor any RCMP officers were injured.

“I do believe this area is a safe area… We’ve got a wonderful detachment of officers here.”

“He or she did what they had to do to protect the community.”

Saturday afternoon, the RCMP said the 22-year-old man had been charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and public mischief. He remained in hospital in stable condition Saturday, but officers said he was “expected to be released from hospital shortly.”

Once released from hospital, officers say the man will be taken into custody until his first court appearance in Edmonton on Monday.

*Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. It was updated at 12:45 p.m. MT Saturday to include information about charges.