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
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.