After a nearly week-long manhunt for two suspects believed to have killed one person and wounded another on the outskirts of Calgary, one suspect has been arrested while the second remains on the run.
RCMP said they arrested and charged Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, of Edmonton, with the first-degree murder of Colin Hough, as well as attempted murder of another person. Penner has a court date set for Aug. 15, 2024.
RCMP the suspect was arrested on Sunday in Edmonton with the help of the city’s police.
Additionally, RCMP said they’ve identified a second suspect in the homicide in Rocky View County that kicked off the manhunt.
An arrest warrant for murder is now out Elijah Blake Strawberry, 28. Strawberry is described as being about six feet tall and 169 pounds. RCMP said he has brown hair and several arm and face tattoos.
“I would like to ask him to peacefully turn himself in to the nearest law enforcement agency,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosx. “I can tell you that exhaustive measures are in place to try and find you. We’re hoping that we can bring this matter to a swift and peaceful resolution where no one else is injured.”
Strawberry is considered armed and dangerous. If seen, people are told to not approach him and instead call 911 immediately.
He is the unnamed person of interest who RCMP released a photo of last week, hoping the public could help identify him.
The fatal shooting happened just before noon Tuesday, Aug. 6, on a rural road about seven kilometres east of Calgary in Rocky View County.
RCMP confirmed Monday night it was a random attack on the two men working in the area. Investigators believe Penner and Strawberry were in a car accident that damaged the truck they were driving, which had been stolen from a northeast Calgary neighbouhood the day before.
The two men stopped at the intersection of Range Road 282 and Township Road 250 where police allege they set the truck on fire and tried to steal the vehicle of a Fortis Alberta employee performing routine work.
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Police said Hough, a Rocky View County employee, had been working in the area when he saw the flames and went to help.
“He saw that the vehicle was set on fire and yes, he did stop and he was trying to help,” said Insp. Breanna Brown with the Alberta RCMP.
“This is unprecedented. This is not something we typically see with the Alberta RCMP. This is not normal and I can’t speak to what they were thinking at the time. We will know further as we continue our investigation.”
Responding officers found two victims at the intersection. Hough was already dead when officers arrived. The Fortis Alberta employee was also shot and wounded but has since been released from hospital.
Doug King is a criminal justice professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. He said incidents like this are very rare in Canada.
“First of all out of town, stranger precipitated. … only about 20 per cent of homicides in Canada are stranger precipitated,” he explained.
“That it took place in the middle of a rural community where there’s no one around, I mean, that is very rare. And the second thing is it wasn’t targeted, it was just an unfortunate homicide of someone who sounded like he just wanted to go over and do a good deed.”
Anyone with any information about the homicide investigation and manhunt is asked to contact Strathmore RCMP 403-934-3968.
Those who want to remain anonymous 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 or Google Play Store.
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