Home / Crime and Justice / Man found not criminally responsible for shotgun attack
Man found not criminally responsible for shotgun attack
7 Feb
Summary
- Man fired shotgun multiple times in apartment building.
- Court ruled schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis impacted actions.
- Suspect to remain at forensic psychiatric center.
Cole Scory, 31, has been found not criminally responsible for attempted murder by Justice Grace Auger. The ruling came after Scory fired a shotgun multiple times inside his Medicine Hat apartment building on July 27, 2024. Scory testified he believed he was following police orders and shooting at a gang, stating he remembers the incident "like it was yesterday."
During the trial, psychiatrist Dr. Kenneth Hashman diagnosed Scory as being on the schizophrenia spectrum. Justice Auger agreed with this assessment, concluding that Scory's mental illness rendered him not criminally responsible for his actions. Police officers testified that Scory fired at them after they identified themselves and attempted negotiations, with one officer sustaining injuries from shrapnel.
Scory will continue to be held at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre, where he has been since 2024. He is scheduled to appear before the Criminal Code Review Board within 45 days to determine his future status, which could include remaining in hospital, a conditional discharge, or release.
