EDMONTON – A 16-year-old has been charged after an autopsy confirmed that Jacob Soosay, a 20-year-old from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, was fatally shot on Jan. 9.
RCMP believe the death is gang related.
A 16-year-old male youth, also from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis (formerly known as Hobbema), has been arrested and charged with first degree murder and other related charges.
The youth has been remanded in custody.
His first court appearance was made in Edmonton Youth Court Monday morning. His next court appearance has been set for Jan. 15 in the Wetaskiwin Provincial Youth Court.
Around 11 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, RCMP responded to a firearms complaint in the Samson Cree Nation townsite. There, they found the 20-year-old with fatal injuries.
The victim’s aunt, Tammy Crier, told Global News her nephew was shot outside his grandmother’s home.
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“It seems like it was a situation where the person that did the shooting was waiting because as soon as he got out of the vehicle from parking in the parking lot…that’s where he was shot,” Crier said.
“My nephew, he had dreams. He had dreams of finishing schooling,” she added. “He was really loving.”
Police don’t believe this was a random act.
“We’re investigating whether this would be gang-related,” said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Josee Valiquette on Friday.
The death comes just four days after the federal government announced nearly $3 million in funding for the Maskwacis Youth Initiative, a program to offer resources to gang members and kids at risk of becoming gang members.
READ MORE: Alberta First Nation receives $3 million in funding to fight gangs
A big part of the program is getting former local gang members to talk to kids.
“I really hope that this is a wake-up,” said Crier. “I really hope that the grassroots people get the help that they need.”
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Maskwacis RCMP at 780-585-4600, or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers (1.800.222.TIPS).
If your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.
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