A Calgary police officer has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder following a police shooting that occurred over two years ago. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) announced the charges against Const. Craig Stothard on Tuesday. The charges stem from a May 29, 2023, incident involving a police chase on Memorial Drive that resulted in the deaths of two men.

The shooting took place after police pursued a stolen cube van that was reported to be driven erratically. According to ASIRT, the investigation revealed reasonable grounds to believe that criminal offenses had occurred. The case was subsequently forwarded to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS), which agreed that the evidence warranted prosecution.

Stothard was formally charged on July 14 and appeared in Calgary Court of King’s Bench the following day. He was released on conditions, but further details about the case will not be disclosed as it is now before the courts.

The incident began when a security guard reported three suspicious individuals on private property. The men fled in a stolen five-ton cube van, which was later seen driving dangerously along Memorial Drive. Police attempted to contain the vehicle, but it broke through their efforts. Approximately 45 minutes into the chase, an officer discharged their firearm, resulting in the deaths of two occupants of the van: Levon Fox and the driver, Wesley Davidson.

Fox, 39, was a father of four and a new grandfather. His family held a vigil on the anniversary of his death, where his mother, Lena Wildman, emphasized the importance of remembering the humanity of those involved. "He wasn’t an unwanted person; he was loved," she stated. Wildman described her son as kind and giving, who was working to overcome struggles with addiction at the time of his death.

Dennis Wildman, Fox’s brother, was also in the vehicle during the incident and was taken to the hospital in police custody. According to family members, Fox was in Calgary to help his brother and was waiting to enter treatment for addiction.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) confirmed that Stothard, a 15-year veteran of the force, is currently on leave. In a statement, CPS expressed confidence in the integrity of the ASIRT investigation and acknowledged the serious nature of the charges. They also recognized the impact such incidents have on community trust in law enforcement, stating, "We are committed to listening, learning, and taking every possible step to understand what can be learned from what happened."

As the case progresses, ASIRT has stated that it will not release additional information, as the matter is now in the judicial system.