RCMP updates in the region

On August 27, RCMP had a heavy police presence in the area of Lily Lake Resort, west of Redwater. On that day at 2:30 am, Morinville RCMP received a 911 call of a firearms complaint with an individual who had been shot in Sturgeon County. Lily Lake Resort residents were asked to shelter as police investigated. Later, the shelter-in-place was lifted. Police are looking for two persons of interest, and both are described as males in their mids 20’s, one with blonde hair and the other wearing a ski mask. The 30-year-old victim of the shooting was taken to Edmonton by air ambulance with serious life-threatening injuries, but this victim’s condition is currently unknown.

More information has become available about the shooting incident in Smoky Lake on August 8: A domestic violence complaint was received, and a vehicle was identified regarding this complaint. When RCMP officers tried to stop this vehicle, the driver fled. Officers pursued and eventually successfully used a tire deflation device. The driver continued at a slower speed, and during this stage of pursuit, an occupant of the vehicle discharged a firearm in the direction of the pursuing officers. The driver went into the Centex gas station in Smoky Lake. The occupants, one man and one woman, exited the vehicle. The male was carrying the firearm, and together they stole a truck parked at the gas station. Officers arrived at the gas station, and one officer discharged their firearm at the fleeing vehicle at 7:58 am. Officers continued to pursue the vehicle as it left Smoky Lake. After briefly losing sight of it, officers located the now-abandoned vehicle in dense trees near Range Road 172. RCMP emergency response team and police dog service officers began to track the occupants from this location. At 10:11 am, officers observed the male occupant in a field. An interaction occurred between the officers and the male occupant, and officers discharged their firearms. Officers approached and later located both occupants, who were wounded. A firearm was located near the man. Emergency medical services provided care at the scene. The male was sent to an Edmonton-area hospital by air ambulance. The female was declared deceased by EMS. Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) will examine the circumstances surrounding the use of force. ASIRT is continuing efforts to identify people who may have witnessed aspects of the confrontation between the man and police and is asking anyone who may have been in the area and may have witnessed these events and/or may have a video to contact investigators at 780-644-1483. On August 20, a 21-year-old man, a resident of Enoch Cree Nation, was charged with: flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of a weapon contrary to order (x3), unauthorized possession of a firearm, robbery with a firearm, theft over $5,000, pointing a firearm (x2). Following a judicial hearing, the 21-year-old male was remanded into custody to speak to bail and is scheduled to attend St. Paul Provincial Court on Sep 1, 2022. 

On Aug 28, just after 5:30 am, the Morinville Home Hardware was broken into. Two Caucasian males wearing dark clothing broke into the store and stole tools. The males fled the area in a white GMC truck. Morinville RCMP requests assistance from the public in identifying the suspects and/or vehicles. Please contact the Morinville RCMP at 780-939-1600 if you have any information. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips” app available through the Apple app store or Google Play Store.