http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/03/14/960070-sun.html
The father of the man gunned down by police says he talked to his son the night before the shooting and wishes he'd said something to stop it before it started. "We talked to him on Thursday and he was down a bit. I should have ... I should have felt something," said Ernie Lippa, 65, of his slain son, Daniel Lippa, 29.
"I'm gonna tear myself apart trying to understand why he didn't call somebody. Maybe he felt like there was nothing left. I don't know."
Police were called around 8:45 p.m. Friday to an apartment complex near 148 Avenue and 25 Street where a woman's ex-husband was reportedly threatening her and her child. Police said he also threatened to harm himself.
At least four officers attended the scene. Two of them were outside an apartment building in the complex and were confronted by the ex-husband holding a knife in a "threatening manner,'' said police spokesman Chris McLeod.
Officers ordered the man several times to drop the weapon, but the man yelled at the officers he was going to come at them with the knife, McLeod said.
"Both officers (drew) their weapons and fired. They really had no option but to draw their weapons. They felt an immediate threat to their lives.''
Around 9:20 p.m., one officer fired five shots at the man, while the other cop fired twice, said McLeod. But he said he wasn't sure which officer fired five or two from their 9-mm, police-issue Glock pistols, or how many rounds hit the man. An autopsy is to be performed today.
Ernie Lippa said police were called once to his son's apartment for a domestic dispute before Friday night's incident. But apart from that, Daniel had "never been in trouble with the police at all. (Daniel and Leanne) had some fights and they were yelling at each other ... As far as going out and causing trouble, he never did that."
They had been married seven years, Ernie said. Daniel was crushed over his wife's decision to leave him, he added.
"He was a really good kid. He was having a lot of problems with Leanne. She told him to get out of the house. She didn't want him around. She wouldn't let him see his son. I guess it just came to a head. She had gone away for a week and he hadn't seen his son. His son was with her mother."
Around March 1, Daniel moved into another apartment, near the one Leanne remained in.
"We got him into another place, and he was by himself. He kept a lot stuff inside instead of letting it out."
Police had no further comment yesterday.
The father of the man gunned down by police says he talked to his son the night before the shooting and wishes he'd said something to stop it before it started. "We talked to him on Thursday and he was down a bit. I should have ... I should have felt something," said Ernie Lippa, 65, of his slain son, Daniel Lippa, 29.
"I'm gonna tear myself apart trying to understand why he didn't call somebody. Maybe he felt like there was nothing left. I don't know."
Police were called around 8:45 p.m. Friday to an apartment complex near 148 Avenue and 25 Street where a woman's ex-husband was reportedly threatening her and her child. Police said he also threatened to harm himself.
At least four officers attended the scene. Two of them were outside an apartment building in the complex and were confronted by the ex-husband holding a knife in a "threatening manner,'' said police spokesman Chris McLeod.
Officers ordered the man several times to drop the weapon, but the man yelled at the officers he was going to come at them with the knife, McLeod said.
"Both officers (drew) their weapons and fired. They really had no option but to draw their weapons. They felt an immediate threat to their lives.''
Around 9:20 p.m., one officer fired five shots at the man, while the other cop fired twice, said McLeod. But he said he wasn't sure which officer fired five or two from their 9-mm, police-issue Glock pistols, or how many rounds hit the man. An autopsy is to be performed today.
Ernie Lippa said police were called once to his son's apartment for a domestic dispute before Friday night's incident. But apart from that, Daniel had "never been in trouble with the police at all. (Daniel and Leanne) had some fights and they were yelling at each other ... As far as going out and causing trouble, he never did that."
They had been married seven years, Ernie said. Daniel was crushed over his wife's decision to leave him, he added.
"He was a really good kid. He was having a lot of problems with Leanne. She told him to get out of the house. She didn't want him around. She wouldn't let him see his son. I guess it just came to a head. She had gone away for a week and he hadn't seen his son. His son was with her mother."
Around March 1, Daniel moved into another apartment, near the one Leanne remained in.
"We got him into another place, and he was by himself. He kept a lot stuff inside instead of letting it out."
Police had no further comment yesterday.
