A meat cleaver and an abandoned SUV found near the site of Friday’s cemetery shooting in Cochrane, Alta. are under investigation as police search for suspects, Global News has learned.
Cochrane residents discovered a silver butcher cleaver on Mountain Ridge Place Road near the Muslim Cemetery and an SUV parked in nearby brush, and called police.
“Later in the day on Friday, a local resident of Cochrane called the RCMP to advise of a Cadillac SUV-style vehicle that had been lodged into a ravine near that cemetery outside of Cochrane,” Alberta RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks told Global News.
Both items were located less than a kilometre from the Muslim Cemetery in a wooded area that is private residential property.
Franks said police are working to find out the connection between the SUV and the funeral shooting, but confirmed “it is related to the people who were in attendance at that funeral.”
She said police are still investigating whether the meat cleaver was involved.
“I know there was a weapon seized on the road nearby the cemetery, as well, within the town of Cochrane,” Franks said. “At this point we haven’t determined whether that is related or not.”
Four people were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a shooting at about 3:35 p.m. Friday. RCMP said friends and family members had gathered at the cemetery for a funeral when an altercation led to a “gun fight.” Police said when they arrived, the people involved had left.
RCMP said the shooting did not appear to be racially motivated.
“All injured parties are of the same race,” Franks said at the time.
Watch below: Global’s coverage of the shooting at the Muslim Cemetery in Alberta from March 11, 2016
Heavily armed police were guarding the emergency entrance at Foothills Medical Centre where the four gunshot victims were being treated Friday. Investigators said the victims are providing information and cooperating with police.
One of the victims has since been released from hospital. Police said Monday they are not yet publicly identifying any suspects.
No arrests have been made, but they’re hoping the new evidence will help make progress in the case.
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