Cole Scory, 31, has been found not criminally responsible by courts after shooting and injuring police officers during a tense standoff in July 2024 at an apartment building on the Southwest Hill.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Cole Scory, 31, has been found not criminally responsible in 11 of 12 counts, including attempted murder, for his involvement in a two-hour standoff with police on July 27, 2024 when he opened fire and injured responding officers.
Court documents report Scory will be transported and kept in custody in a unit at the Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Facility pending the review board within 45 days of his latest court appearance on Feb. 6.
Courts found Scory not criminally responsible for 11 counts against him, including attempted murder using a shotgun by discharging his firearm at Medicine Hat police officers.
One count, related to assault and threatening to use a weapon, was dropped by courts.
In July 2024, police were originally called to the scene to investigate a complaint from a civilian that a gun was discharged by an occupant of a suite in the apartment building.
Officers quickly evacuated several occupants from the building when they arrived on scene. As an officer was standing by the front entrance glass door a gun was discharged from within the suite, injuring attending officers. A large hole could be seen in the door.
Police immediately returned fire and retreated from the building as tactical members arrived and later removed Scory, who was injured, from the building.
Scory was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds. Police were able to recover a shotgun-style firearm from Scory’s apartment suite.
On Aug. 2, 2024, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was called in to investigate the officer involved shooting.
An official police witness statement from a report released by ASIRT on the incident says police attending the scene began negotiations with Scory and were aware he had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
As officers surrounded the building, Scory came out from behind a wall and fired toward officers near the entrance of the door to the apartment, leading to a shootout with police.
This led to a two-hour standoff with MHPS’s negotiation team before a decision was made to introduce an irritant gas to allow for safer entry for apprehension.
Tactical units were then able to take Scory into custody.
Two officers, as well as Scory, were struck during the shootout. One of the two officers was struck by projectiles and shrapnel and received injuries to their face, shoulder and arm, while the other officer sustained injuries to his left arm.
Scory sustained gunshot wounds to his stomach and right leg.
