Child dies in shooting on Alberta First Nation

HOBBEMA – Police have confirmed that a five-year-old was killed after a shooting on the Samson First Nation early Monday morning.

Investigators received a call about a shooting at a home at 3:00 AM Monday.

The child was inside the home when the shooting occurred.

A woman in the house suffered non-life threatening injuries during the shooting. She was taken to hospital.

Neighbours say they heard gunshots, followed by a man and a woman crying that their son had been shot in the head.

The child has been identified as the grandson of Chief Marvin Yellowbird.

"It is indeed a sad day and a dark day for the people of Samson Cree Nation," Yellowbird said at an afternoon press conference. "We ask that any person who has knowledge of this event to contact RCMP."

RCMP say the bullet that struck and killed the boy is believed to have come from outside the home.

An autopsy will be performed on the little boy’s body Tuesday.

Investigators are also looking into a separate incident, where a gun was fired outside a house at the Samson town site at 1:30 AM.

Police do not know if the two incidents are connected.

The incident comes just three years after Asia Saddleback was struck by a bullet while sitting at the kitchen table inside her home on the Samson First Nation.

Asia, who was just two years old at the time, survived the shooting.

In 2009, Christopher Shane Crane pleaded guilty to several charges in connection with the shooting of Saddleback.

Area residents tell Global News that the little boy who died in the Monday morning shooting is Saddleback’s second cousin.

Neighbours say the boy’s death is just one more indication that something needs to change in the community.

"There’s still like, drug dealers galore here," Martina Swampy Lazard said. "I don’t know if this is going to change anything."

RCMP believe there are about six loosely organized Aboriginal gangs based in Hobbema.

Yellowbird says a lot has already been done to prevent crime in the area.

"I do acknowledge we do have a problem, but we’re putting forth plans and programs to deal with alcohol and drug problem."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call RCMP at 780-585-4600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

The Samson First Nation is approximately an hour and a half south of Edmonton.