CANMORE – RCMP officials have confirmed that reports of an active shooter in Canmore near the hospital Saturday evening (April 25) were "unsubstantiated."
Residents of the neighbourhood near the hospital took to social media to ask why multiple police cruisers were patrolling the area, when rumours of an active shooter began to circulate.
RCMP media relations officer Const. Kathleen Fossen said there was no active shooter in the community.
In a press release, Fossen wrote that RCMP in Canmore received a complaint around 6 p.m. "advising of what appeared to be a man with a long gun in the area" between the Trans-Canada Highway and the local hospital.
"An investigation ensued and police were quickly able to determine that the complaint was unsubstantiated," Fossen wrote.
"During the investigation police flooded the area, engaged the police dog service and locked down the hospital for 40 minutes.
"Contrary to what was reported on social media there was not an active shooter in the area. Police confirm that there is no threat to public safety."
Fossen thanked the public and hospital employees for their cooperation during the investigation.
