Nephew of 70-year-old fatally shot by police during weapons call speaks out
The nephew of the 70-year-old man shot by police after appearing to threaten people with a machete in downtown Windsor, Ont. — later dying in hospital — says he feels sorry for the two officers who had to confront him in his uncle’s final moments.
“If there’s any way that I could apologize on behalf of the family for the pain that these two officers must be carrying with them, I’d like to do that,” says Ted Andkilde on the Aug. 17 edition of AM800’s The Shift with Patty Handysides.
On Monday around 2:30 p.m., Windsor police officers attended the intersection of Wyandotte Street and Ouellette Avenue in downtown Windsor for a report of a man wielding a weapon.
In a video of the incident submitted to CTV News Windsor, 70-year-old Allan Andkilde — appearing to raise a machete — approaches two officers.
According to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), one officer deployed a Taser while another fatally shot him.
The 70-year-old’s nephew says this was not the first interaction his uncle had with law enforcement.
Back in 2014, Andkilde, who was 62 at the time, was charged with multiple offences including aggravated assault and breaking-and-entering.
Later that year, he was sentenced to five years in prison after court heard he forced his way into a property and slashed a person’s neck, according to a report by Global News.
Allan Andkilde also pleaded guilty to an assault charge back in the early 90s, his nephew adds.
“His entire life was riddled with brushes with the law and he unfortunately left a lot of damage in his wake,” says Ted, adding his uncle “moved around the province” throughout his life.
“He was in the Hamilton area and then he was back in Windsor and then he was out west. About two years ago, after he was released from prison, he made his way back to the Windsor area,” he says.
Ted does not blame police for how they dealt with his uncle, telling AM800 there was only so much they could do under the circumstances.
While the 70-year-old’s death has renewed a conversation surrounding mental health, Ted adds his thoughts are with the officer who fired the fatal shot.
“They had a person who essentially lured them into a situation and then threaten them and rushed at them with a weapon. The officer simply had very few options available,” says Ted.
He adds, “I think when people lead a life outside the norms of society and burn bridges as they go, they’re left with very few choices.”
The SIU is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Allan Andkilde’s death.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.