Jesmeen Gill · CBC News

· Posted: May 26, 2026 10:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes ago

An Edmonton man who supplied a teen with a semi-automatic rifle later used to kill two police officers has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Dennis Okeymow, 21, was convicted Tuesday on 10 charges — including three counts of manslaughter — along with other offences related to the killings, as well as to a previous shooting involving the teen.

Okeymow faced a total of 17 charges in connection with the 2023 deaths of Edmonton police constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan. The officers were shot by 16-year-old Roman Shewchuk, who obtained the gun from Okeymow. 

Last month, Okeymow pleaded guilty to the other seven charges, which included trafficking controlled substances, weapons and possessing a firearm while being prohibited from doing so.

Tuesday’s verdict concerned the 10 charges related to bodily harm, manslaughter, and criminal negligence.

Okeymow was found guilty of three counts of manslaughter and three counts of criminal negligence causing death with a firearm for the deaths of the constables as well Shewchuk, who killed himself following the constable shootings.

Okeymow was additionally found guilty of two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and two counts of unlawfully causing bodily harm. These convictions pertain to attacks against Kateryna Shewchuk, Roman’s mother, who was injured in the ambush; and against Richard Albert, who was shot by Shewchuk days earlier in a random attack at a Pizza Hut. Albert suffered life-altering injuries.

Justice John Little said that while Okeymow didn't pull the trigger, he failed to take the reasonable steps. 

The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment building when they were ambushed and fatally shot by Shewchuk.

Little said that Okeymow’s actions and inactions were a significant and contributing cause of the three deaths.

He added that because the Crown was able to prove the essential elements of manslaughter, they have also proven the elements of bodily harm.

Following the verdict, Eric Stewart, acting inspector with the Edmonton Police Service, said the investigation was a “complex endeavour” involving multiple areas of law enforcement.

“This was an unprecedented investigation, a first in Canadian history for firearms trafficking, an example of the excellence EPS strives to uphold,” Stewart said. “I'd like to commend everyone for their outstanding efforts, and honouring the memory of Brett and Travis, as well as their families.”

A statement from the Alberta Crown prosecution service said that, as the matter remains before the court for sentencing, it cannot make further comment on the verdict.

"This is a significant decision by the court. The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the Edmonton Police Service and the other law enforcement agencies and laboratories for their exceptional work on this file.”

A sentencing date is expected to be set on June 12.