A man and his 11-year-old son were fatally shot during what the Edmonton Police Service described as “serious, targeted incident” at a shopping complex Thursday in deep southeast Edmonton.
Around noon MT, over a dozen police cruisers and an ambulance responded reports of a shooting at the Petro-Canada gas station and A&W in the Harvest Pointe shopping complex just off Ellerslie Road and 50th Street.
Upon arrival, police said officers found a 41-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy in medical distress.
EMS responded, however, both the man and child died of their injuries on scene.
They are a father and son, EPS confirmed. Not long after the shooting, family members began showing up to the scene, where they learned their loved ones had died.
The homicide section is now investigating the suspicious deaths and said detectives have determined this was a targeted attack.
As of Thursday evening, autopsies had yet to be scheduled.
“We are sad to report that a child lost their life as a result of this violent event,” EPS Homicide Section Staff Sgt. Rob Bilawey said.
“The loss or injury of children as a result of gunfire is unfathomable and we urge anyone with information that may assist this investigation to come forward as soon as possible.”
Witnesses told Global News they heard at least three gunshots.
Parmjit Dodd was walking into a noon dentist appointment when she said she heard three loud bangs — but didn’t think anything of it initially.
“I thought maybe some construction is going on, so I went in. When I came out — so much police. My God, it’s so scary,” she said.
She said she thought about going to the A&W for food before her appointment but changed her mind: “Thank God I didn’t go.”
Dodd said after being so close to the shooting in broad daylight, she feels like crime is getting out of hand in Edmonton.
“I don’t know what’s happening, what they’re going to do about it. More police or something? How are we going to be safe?” Dodd said.
“It don’t feel safe anymore.”
Sarbjit Singh has lived on the south side for four years and was working in a nearby business when the bangs went off. He said he’s never seen anything like Thursday’s police scene.
Singh said he’s used to hearing about crime on the north side, downtown and around Whyte Avenue but this incident hit closer to home than he’s comfortable with.
“It’s a busy area. It shouldn’t be looking like this,” he said.
“It is daylight (when) it’s happening — it’s too scary.”
A police scene was also spotted on a rural gravel road at the far southeastern edge of city limits.
A vehicle, seemingly destroyed by fire, was found on 41st Avenue SW near 34th Street.
Edmonton police said shortly after the fatal shootings, EPS was notified of a vehicle fire near 34 Street and Township Road 510 (north of Beaumont).
“At this time, police continue to investigate if this vehicle is linked to the shooting. No one was located inside the vehicle and no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire at this time,” a 6 p.m. statement said.
The details of the shooting were immediately posted to and discussed on social media and EPS said detectives are hoping to speak with any witnesses or individuals who may have specific details about the event.
Likewise, anyone with security or dash camera footage that was active in the area at the time is encouraged to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.
Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.