Calgary police officer appears in court, charged with 2nd-degree murder

A Calgary police officer, Const. Craig Stothard, appeared in court on Monday for the start of his preliminary hearing. He has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The charges stem from a shooting that occurred during a slow-speed chase in May 2023 that resulted in the deaths of two men, Levon Fox, 39, and Wesley Davidson, 46. Fox's brother survived the incident.

The pursuit began after a security guard in the Mayland Heights community reported three suspicious individuals fleeing on private property. Following the calls, police located the five-tonne cube van and began following it at slow speed along Memorial Drive. Due to the van's erratic driving and dangerous behavior towards the public, police attempted to stop the vehicle near St. George’s Drive. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, and the van continued moving towards officers.

Several factors, including police body-worn cameras, helicopter footage, and public videos, were examined by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) as part of a year-long investigation. The ASIRT recommended charges be laid against the officer. Stothard, a 13-year veteran of the Calgary Police Service, discharged his service firearm during the incident, which led to the deaths of Fox and Davidson.

During the preliminary hearing, family members and experts, such as Professor Doug King of Mount Royal University, expressed hope for further details about the case. They emphasized the need to understand the decision-making process of the officer and the threat assessment involved. The preliminary hearing is expected to last up to 10 days.