The family of a 17-year-old shot and killed by police this past weekend is slamming officers for shooting the young man three times. Cyrus Green was fatally wounded by an Edmonton officer early Saturday morning.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is now investigating the case.

The incident started after police responded to a weapons and robbery complaint at the Coliseum ETS Station around 12:30 a.m.

Police officials report a suspect was soon located near 118th Avenue between the north and southbound portions of Wayne Gretzky Drive. And according to an EPS spokesperson, the situation "escalated," leading an officer to use lethal force.

ASIRT director Clif Purvis has said initial reports indicate the teenager was charging at police before he was shot three times.

ASIRT has recovered the knife and bat that were involved in the incident.

Investigators said the suspect fled from police and during the pursuit, approached a uniformed officer while in possession of a knife and bat.

The family of the teen spoke candidly to CTV News Tuesday criticizing the police's action. 

"I don't think they should have resulted to shooting him three times, I just thought maybe one time he would have just dropped everything you know," said Green's sister Anita. "But three times... that's way too late by the time they look at him he's dead already."

The Edmonton Police Association is on record as calling this shooting justified.

"The officer had to make a very quick decision as to how to stop this suspect from hurting him and he used his training and used the force he thought was appropriate at the time," said association president Tony Simioni.

ASIRT reviews all cases of injuries or deaths that involve police, and will work to determine if the actions of the officer were justified.

Green's sister and mother say the 17-year-old was a caring and funny young man.

"He loved his family. Always worrying about his family his friends, never about himself," said Cyrus' mother, Carol.

The family is now waiting for the teen's body to be released following his autopsy.

Plans are being made for a funeral service in Cold Lake where the teen grew up.

With files from Scott Roberts