Sources identify deceased teen who killed officers

EDMONTON — Postmedia News has confirmed the identity of the teen boy who killed two police officers and himself in a burst of violence last week.

According to multiple sources, the 16-year-old is Roman Zoltan Shewchuk.

Shewchuk, who police say opened fire on constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan after his mother called 911 about a family dispute March 16, later shot himself in the head and died at the scene.

Shewchuk’s mother was wounded during a struggle for the gun and at last report remained in hospital. Police said the youth is also suspected of shooting a Pizza Hut employee four days prior to killing the two constables.

Had Shewchuk survived and been charged, his identity would have been protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Police officials have declined to identify the shooter, citing privacy concerns and potential impacts on the investigation, but confirmed there is no legal impediment to releasing the name. They did not rule out confirming the youth’s name in the future.

Shewchuk’s identity was first reported Wednesday by the Toronto Star.

Cody, a 19-year-old American man who met Shewchuk online, was shocked to hear the news.

Cody met Shewchuk on Xbox live in 2016 or 2017. They often played games together, including Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft. Shewchuk did not open up much about his life, but did talk occasionally about where he lived and how he was feeling.

“Sometimes I’d ask him how he was doing and stuff, and he’d tell me he was fine, but kind of like, depressed,” said Cody, who Postmedia News has agreed to identify only by his first name. He tried to cheer him up, but “I never really asked him about what or anything.”

Cody said he and Shewchuk last spoke in March 2022. He reached out again later that year after the two fell out of touch.

“I tried texting him Dec. 27, but he looked at it and never responded,” Cody said.