'I will never find any peace': Mother of police shooting victim demands more mental-health training
CTV
In her dimly-lit front room, Shelley Croston is unable to fight back tears as she holds a childhood photograph of her son Mitchell, who was killed by a Calgary police officer last week.
In her dimly-lit front room, Shelley Croston is unable to fight back tears as she holds a childhood photograph of her son Mitchell, who was killed by a Calgary police officer last week.
In the early morning on Feb. 14, police were called to a commercial building in the 3000 block of 2nd Avenue N.E. after reports of a break-and-enter, after which Mitchell Croston was shot and killed by a police officer.
Police say Croston attacked an officer with a weapon, but are not saying what type of weapon.
"I truly believe Mitchell was looking for shelter and warmth in that vacant building. There was absolutely no need for this policeman to shoot with intention to kill my son." said Shelley Croston.
"I cannot fathom in my mind why this officer decided to kill my son. He needs to be accountable for this senseless death."
Croston says her 34-year-old son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was in his late teens, and had been homeless and living on the streets since November of 2022. He recently developed an addiction to fentanyl, which she says he was working to overcome.
"He so very badly wanted to get better. He'd been struggling recently and desperately trying to get help," she said.
