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- calendar_today November 11, 2026
Sentencing Hearing Highlights Trauma After Edmonton Police Shooting
Paramedic Ashley Ryan delivered a powerful victim impact statement in an Edmonton courtroom on Tuesday, recalling the harrowing moments surrounding the deaths of two police officers, including her husband, at the center of the 2023 edmonton shooting.
Shooting Details and Victims Identified
Constable Brett Ryan and Constable Travis Jordan were killed in March 2023 while responding to a domestic disturbance call at an Edmonton apartment complex. They were ambushed and fatally shot by 16-year-old Roman Shewchuk, who then took his own life. The tragedy unfolded during a call initiated after Shewchuk's mother reported being strangled by her son. She was shot and injured in the incident.
Traumatic Discovery for Paramedic Widow
Ashley Ryan, a paramedic with 13 years of experience, described in court the moment she discovered both victims were police officers—one being her husband. While at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Ryan was reviving one fallen officer when she realized her husband was the other shooting victim arriving at the hospital.
"The blood-curdling screams that I let out when I realized that it was Brett on that stretcher will never not echo in that ambulance bay," Ryan said, recalling she was 15 weeks pregnant at the time. She shared how she cleaned her husband's wounds so their loved ones would not see the "carnage." Ryan said she continues to struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, making it impossible for her to work as a paramedic.
Legal Proceedings Against the Firearm Supplier
The court hearing focused on 22-year-old Dennis Okeymow, who was found guilty in May of 10 charges related to the case. These charges included three counts of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death, tied to the illegal firearm sales of the semi-automatic rifle used by Shewchuk. Weeks before the shooting, Okeymow sold the weapon and ammunition to the teen, who had a documented history of mental illness.
Prosecutor Adam Garrett asserted that Okeymow should have recognized the danger in selling the rifle to Shewchuk, particularly given the teen's mental health issues and Okeymow's ongoing drug sales to him. The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of 12 to 14 years, while the defense has requested four and a half years of time already served and three years of probation.
Victim Impact Statements Illustrate Far-Reaching Trauma
Eight victim impact statements were heard during the sentencing. Laurie Ryan, Brett Ryan's mother and a retired emergency department nurse, described performing CPR on her own son after witnessing his lifeless body at the hospital. The emotional toll, she stated, led to her leaving her longtime health care career.
Annie Jordan, widow of Const. Travis Jordan, emphasized that the devastation was triggered by a single act of illegally selling a firearm. "A single act can send shock waves through countless lives," she told the court.
Additional Victims and Ongoing Community Effects
Following the illegal firearm sale, Shewchuk had used the rifle days before the officers' deaths to shoot a stranger, Richard Albert, at a pizza shop. Albert survived but sustained significant and permanent injuries. During the hearing, Okeymow apologized to the families and police service, stating, "I understand that words won't change what happened that day, but I apologize. I'm sorry."
Consideration of Indigenous Background and Sentencing Factors
Defense lawyer Jamil Sawani presented aspects of Okeymow’s Indigenous background and life history, explaining that family disruptions due to the residential school system and periods in foster care shaped his client's life. Sawani argued that Okeymow has made progress while in custody by reconnecting with his culture and completing his education.
Court of King's Bench Justice John Little is expected to issue a sentencing decision at a later date.
Source: cbc.ca.
