A mother whose son died after ramming a Saskatoon police cruiser and crashing a stolen truck is blaming gang activity for the death.
Agatha Eaglechief told CTV News Tuesday she believes her son Austin’s involvement in gangs was behind the incident Monday night in which a stolen truck crashed on Circle Drive, a police car was rammed and officers fired gunshots.
“I believe the gangs succeeded in taking my son,” she said.
Agatha was standing on the steps of the Saskatoon Police Service headquarters, with family members by her side. She was visibly emotional, crying as she spoke of her son.
The mother was clearly shocked and troubled by the death, but said she was glad to know her son is now free of the gang life.
“I’m glad my son is where he’s at,” she said. “He doesn’t have to answer to them anymore. I don’t have to have that disrespect from him, but now I know where he’s at.”
She said she was horrified when she heard of the incident’s events.
“I am so appalled by the situation — why did the cops have to shoot in a small corridor and why my son reacted the way he did and then the high speed chase,” she said. “I’m going home without my son today, and I need answers.”
Police say Austin, 22, was the driver of a stolen truck who died after crashing, at a speed up to 150 kilometres per hour, into a civilian vehicle at Circle Drive and Airport Drive.
Officers in the police plane had been tracking the vehicle. The crash occurred just seconds after police activated their emergency lights and sirens and just minutes after the stolen truck rammed a police cruiser in the city’s River Heights neighbourhood and fled.
Gunshots were fired by police at some point as the truck rammed the cruiser, and an officer in the police car was taken to hospital with injuries to her neck and head.
Police Chief Clive Weighill said early findings from the coroner indicate Austin died from the collision and not from the gunshots.
“We don’t believe the suspect was struck by the gun fire, but that will be confirmed when the autopsy is completed,” Weighill said. “A visual at the scene did not show any gunshot wounds.”
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Read more: Driver of stolen truck dead after crash; police officer hospitalized following pursuit
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The officer taken to hospital has since been released, as has the driver of the civilian vehicle and a passenger in the stolen truck who were taken to hospital as a precaution.
The passenger is in police custody. He was wanted on outstanding warrants for possessing the proceeds of crime, possessing property obtained by crime, dangerous driving, theft, obstruction of a police officer, aggravated assault and unlawful confinement, according to Weighill.
A firearm and ammunition were both found in the stolen truck.
Austin’s mom said her son always tried to please everyone, which likely contributed to his gang involvement.
“I need my son and I’m never going to see him again due to the fact that he listened to the people to do these missions,” she said.
“He represented these guys, and I don’t like that. He didn’t even represent me. Now I’m like, ‘Why? Why did he have to make choices like that?’”
Weighill has yet to confirm if police believe the events were gang related.
Police will be showing the full video of the incident to Austin’s family, according to the police chief.
“We will be allowing them to see the full video of what happened because I want to make sure they understand, they can see for themselves, the whole incident that unfolded,” he said.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
--- Mark Villani contributed to this report
