Police say a manhunt continues in southern Alberta after two people were shot and wounded on Tuesday — one fatally — while Rocky View County officials confirm one of the victims was a county worker who was killed.
A utility provider in the province confirms the surviving victim is one of its employees.
Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz, the Strathmore RCMP detachment commander, provided an update to reporters late Wednesday afternoon.
He said investigators are now looking for what they describe as “a vehicle of interest” in connection with the case: a white 2013 Dodge Ramp pickup truck that was stolen from the 400 block of Abadan Place Northeast in Calgary just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
RCMP said it has teal aftermarket rims with bullet shell-shaped lug nuts, with a “F–k Trudeau” sticker on the back window.
He said anybody who sees the vehicle is asked to call police. (A photo of the truck can be viewed below.)
On Tuesday, county officials issued a statement about the death of an employee but did not link it to the shooting. However, on Wednesday, a county official confirmed the worker died in the shooting.
Police said officers from the Strathmore RCMP detachment were called to a shooting in the area of Range Road 282 and Township Road 250 in Rocky View County and found the two victims. One was already dead when officers arrived.
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“After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene in a stolen Rocky View County work truck,” police said. “They dumped the truck at Range Road 260 and Township Road 252, located in Wheatland County, and fled the scene.
“RCMP quickly located this vehicle and a search of the area was conducted.”
After officers responded to the shooting on Tuesday, police issued a shelter-in-place order for people living in the area shortly after 1 p.m.
“A thorough search was completed and the suspects were not located,” the RCMP said. “At 4:34 p.m., the shelter-in-place (order) was lifted.”
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the event or who may have dashcam video of the area from between 11:50 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to call the Strathmore RCMP detachment at 403-934-3968, or to call Crime Stoppers.
“Do not approach the suspects if encountered,” the RCMP said. “They are considered armed and dangerous.”
Wielgosz said Wednesday afternoon that investigators are looking for two suspects but that suspect descriptions were not available.
He added that investigators believe the shooting was “not targeted” but said that is a preliminary conclusion and did not elaborate on what led to that belief.
“We’re still trying to establish the facts of what happened,” Wielgosz said, calling the shooting a “senseless and heinous crime.”
“We want to ensure we’re protecting the integrity of the investigation.”
Wielgosz said the case is a “priority investigation” for the RCMP in Alberta and noted that a wide range of units within the law enforcement agency are involved.
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When asked what he would say to residents of the region in terms of what risk the suspects could pose to them and what to look for considering there are no descriptions of them, Wielgosz said he believes the suspects left the Strathmore area and that the community is safe.
“I don’t believe they’re coming back,” he said, noting that people should simply be mindful of suspicious activity and to keep an eye out for the pickup truck now deemed a vehicle of interest.
“At this point in time I’d say the risk level is low.”
Employers issue statements about 2 victims
“It is with great sadness and shock that we inform you that our colleague, Colin Hough, has passed away following an incident that occurred earlier today,” Rocky View County officials said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Reeve Crystal Kissel also issued a statement, saying people in her community are “shocked and heartbroken by this devastating event.”
“We will support Colin’s family and colleagues in any way we can as we stand together in grieving this loss.”
Byron Riemann, the county’s chief administrative officer, said this “tragic and senseless act has deeply affected us all.”
“Colin was a valued member of our team, and we extend our deepest condolences to Colin’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”
The surviving victim works for Fortis Alberta. In a statement issued to Global News, the utility provider said it could not provide “particulars of this event” because police are still investigating but provided some details.
“We can share that while performing routine work, one of our employees was shot and sustained an injury during the encounter reported by RCMP in Strathmore on Tuesday,” company officials said.
“The employee was treated for the injury and released from the hospital later that evening.
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