Investigators say the man shot to death by Mounties in Surrey, B.C. earlier this week was found with a loaded assault rifle in his lap, but can't say whether it was fired.
Adam Brian Purdie, a 28-year-old known to police, was killed Wednesday night after a brief police chase that ended with the door of his white Chrysler 300 pinned shut by a Surrey RCMP cruiser.
Police initially said Purdie had opened fire on the officer in the car, but later amended their account in a release, saying there "can be no definitive statements made about whether or not shots were made."
The Saanich Police Department, which is conducting an independent probe into the shooting, verified Friday that an assault rifle chambered for a .22-calibre round was found in Purdie's car.
"I cannot say whether it was in his hands or not," Sgt. Dean Jantzen said. "What I've been told is … it was in his possession."
The rifle's muzzle was facing the officer. Jantzen said police were awaiting forensic test results that would reveal whether a shootout had occurred.
"There were several rounds fired. By whom and in what order, again, we can't confirm those details as of yet," he said.
A replica pistol was also found in Purdie's vehicle. Police say only one officer was involved in the shooting, a male with six years of experience with Surrey RCMP.
Investigators haven't spoken to the officer yet, Jantzen said.
Police say Purdie battled a drug addiction in the past, and there were recent concerns about his behaviour attributed to a relapse.
Purdie was convicted of firearm possession and assaulting a police officer in 2004 after breaking into the home of a man dating his ex-girfriend armed with a gun. He was given a lifetime ban on firearm possession.
The Surrey resident had been working at Coquitlam Chrysler.
Saanich police are looking for any potential witnesses who were in the area of King George Blvd. and Highway 10 at around 11 p.m. Wednesday either on foot or in a vehicle.
