Sources identify deceased teen who killed Edmonton police officers

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Postmedia has confirmed the identity of the teen boy who killed two police officers and himself in a burst of violence last week.

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According to multiple sources, the 16-year-old is Roman Zoltan Shewchuk.

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Shewchuk, who police say opened fire on constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan after his mother called 911 about a family dispute March 16, later shot himself in the head and died at the scene.

Shewchuk’s mother was wounded during a struggle for the gun and at last report remained in hospital. Police said the youth is also suspected of shooting a Pizza Hut employee four days prior to killing the two constables.

Had Shewchuk survived and been charged, his identity would have been protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Police officials have declined to identify the shooter, citing privacy concerns and potential impacts on the investigation, but confirmed there is no legal impediment to releasing the name. They did not rule out confirming the youth’s name in the future.

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Shewchuk’s identity was first reported Wednesday by the Toronto Star.

Cody, a 19-year-old American man who met Shewchuk online, was shocked to hear the news.

Cody met Shewchuk on Xbox live in 2016 or 2017. They often played games together, including Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft. Shewchuk did not open up much about his life, but did talk occasionally about where he lived and how he was feeling.

“Sometimes I’d ask him how he was doing and stuff, and he’d tell me he was fine, but kind of like, depressed,” said Cody, who Postmedia has agreed to identify only by his first name. He tried to cheer him up, but “I never really asked him about what or anything.”

Cody said he and Shewchuk last spoke in March 2022. He reached out again later that year after the two fell out of touch.

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“I tried texting him Dec. 27 but he looked at it and never responded,” Cody said.

A classmate at Ross Sheppard High School said they immediately recognized Shewchuk’s photo when it was first reported in the press.

Remy Young said in a social media message that Shewchuk was a seat-mate in social studies class the previous semester, and was “always pretty quiet and reserved.” Young couldn’t recall seeing Shewchuk socializing with other kids, and said he was often absent.

Previous mental health call

Shewchuk had at least one previous interaction with the mental health system that included police involvement.

EPS Supt. Shane Perka confirmed Thursday a joint EPS/Alberta Health Services mental health team apprehended the teen in November 2022 and took him to hospital under the Mental Health Act. Perka said he did not know what happened after the youth was hospitalized. AHS declined to comment.

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According to court records, Roman Shewchuk was born April 2, 2006. He is the child of Kateryna Shewchuk, née Nod, aged 55, and Ronald Shewchuk, 73. The two were married in 2003, separated in 2013 and finalized their divorce in 2016.

The court documents say Kateryna Shewchuk is originally from Tyachevo, in western Ukraine. They do not make clear when she came to Canada.

On Thursday, police said the mother is recovering in hospital and is only able to communicate through writing. Investigators have no indication whether she or the father knew about the gun. The Pizza Hut employee also remains in hospital.

Police have yet to identify the gun in the shooting, but have said a key question is how the youth obtained the weapon. Anyone who helped the teen acquire the gun “probably faces some criminal jeopardy,” Deputy Chief Devin Laforce said.

A regimental funeral for Jordan and Ryan will take place Monday.

— With files from Nicole Bergot 

jwakefield@postmedia.com

twitter.com/jonnywakefield