EDMONTON – A convenience store that was the scene of one of two “barbaric” murders early Friday morning has cut back its hours.
The Mac’s store on 82 Street and 32 Avenue in south Edmonton has permanently changed its hours to 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. It will no longer be open 24 hours a day.
The second Mac’s store involved in the two deaths – in Pleasantview – will still remain open 24 hours a day.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 18, Mac’s employee 35-year-old Karanpal Singh Bhangu was fatally shot at the Mill Woods location. Just 14 minutes later, at a different Mac’s store near 108 Street and 61 Avenue, another employee was killed. He has been identified as 41-year-old Ricky Massin Cenabre.
“It’s heinous acts,” said Police Chief Rod Knecht. “These were extreme acts of violence. I’ve talked to the investigators before I came in here and they say it was over-the-top violence… Absolutely unnecessary, gratuitous, evil.”
READ MORE: ‘Unnecessary, gratuitous, evil’: 2 clerks shot to death in Edmonton robberies
The police chief said the clerks did not resist the armed robbery, didn’t fight back and likely didn’t expect to be “executed.”
Knecht said minimal amounts of money were stolen from both locations in the armed robberies.
Mac’s Convenience stores Western Canada is making a $30,000 donation to a fund to honour the victims.
The company set up a bank account with CIBC to accept donations in support of the victims’ families. Anyone wishing to contribute can do so in person at any CIBC branch, through a wire transfer or email transfer to edmsupportfund@macs.ca. The password is “family,” the account name is “Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc. (Edmonton Family Support Fund),” the transit number is 00009 and the account number is 80-87717.
“In the midst of tragedy, we are extremely impressed and grateful at how our neighbours and communities have rallied around these heartbreaking events,” Mac’s Western Canada VP Bonnie Birollo said.
Three people were charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths, including a 13-year-old who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Colton Steinhauer and Laylin Delorme are also charged in the murders.
READ MORE: Youth accused in Edmonton Mac’s murders cries in court
All three appeared in court (two via CCTV) Monday.
Steinhauer and Delorne’s cases were adjourned until Jan. 11, 2016.
The youth will be back in court Jan. 4.