Nova Scotia’s police watchdog is investigating a shooting involving members of the RCMP that resulted in the death of a man from the Sipekne’katik First Nation on Tuesday morning.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) confirmed to CBC News that its investigation is related to an emergency alert issued Tuesday morning about a man with a firearm driving along a rural highway in Hants County.

According to police, Sipekne’katik RCMP received a call at 8:35 a.m. on Tuesday related to a disturbance at a residence in Sipekne’katik First Nation. They said a man was reported as having a firearm and threatening others before leaving in a Honda Civic.

An emergency alert was issued to Hants and Colchester Counties about a man with a firearm driving along a rural highway in Hants County just after 9 a.m. local time. At the time of the alert, police urged people in the area to find shelter, stay inside and lock their doors and windows.

Local schools were also on hold and secure, police said.

SIRT said officers found the man and were able to deflate the car’s tires with a spike belt. Police said the car left Highway 236 near the intersection with Highway 202.

“Non-lethal options were attempted and then multiple shots were fired by officers,” SIRT said in its news release.

“Life-saving measures were provided by officers and paramedics. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

The RCMP had reported earlier that the man was taken into custody.

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