Edmonton police said two men – aged 21 and 27 – are facing a number of charges, including attempted murder, after a shooting and police chase Saturday night.
At approximately 9 p.m., northeast patrol officers responded to a report of shots fired near 436 Brintnell Blvd.
Police said a man and woman – both in their mid thirties – were found in the area suffering from gunshot wounds. They were treated on scene and taken to hospital. EPS said Sunday the man’s injuries are life-threatening and the woman’s are not.
Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter said the two suspects who are in custody and the two victims are both known to police, in different ways. Investigators believe the pair was targeted and the suspects were waiting for them.
Neil Thompson lives in a condo at the address and said he went outside after hearing the gunfire.
“I heard three shots initially, direct, just ‘bang, bang, bang,’” he said.
“I heard sirens… and there was somewhere between seven and 10 police vehicles that had come in, an ambulance followed, they cordoned off the street and two driveways.”
Thompson said he looked down to see one of the victims.
“All I saw was the ambulance drivers had her on a gurney, had her tied down, and they were wheeling her into the second ambulance,” he said.
Thompson said he has lived in the neighbourhood for more than a year and it is generally quiet. He said he does not typically see that type of violence in the area.
“I found it off. It’s not unusual to find it in certain areas. This is a brand-new area, less questionable activity,” he said.
It was reported to police that two men were seen running from the area and got into a minivan that left the scene.
On Sunday, Hunter said there could be one or more additional suspects and police were asking the public for help.
He explained there was a 15-minute gap in time between when police arrived at the scene of the shooting on Brintnell Blvd and when they found the van. Hunter said investigators hope witnesses will be able to provide more information on what happened in between those time periods.
Watch below: Two men are in custody after a man and woman sustained gunshot wounds and police were shot at, but Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter said investigators now believe there could be one or more additional suspects.
The EPS now believes there may have been one or more additional suspects in the van. Anyone who saw the vehicle is asked to contact police.
Officers found the suspect vehicle near 129 Avenue and 69 Street and tried to conduct a vehicle stop but the van drove away and shots were fired from the suspect vehicle at police.
Officers were not hurt.
Robert Boyd was in his backyard when he heard the commotion on 129 Avenue.
“It was quiet. I heard the gunshots so I had to go and check it out.”
“It just happened so fast. It was over and done with in 30 seconds.”
According to EPS, two men got out of the van near 130 Avenue and 88 Street and ran away. The two suspects were caught in a nearby field.
Vicki Vieria said she heard the sirens, looked out the window and saw police.
“We could see [officers] running with rifles and then we went outside. We could see they had taken at least one person down,” she said.
Police said officers found two firearms close by.
Two suspects are now in police custody. Edmonton police said the pair is believed to be the same men involved in the shooting on Brintnell Blvd.
The suspects could also be facing charges related to firearms offences and driving offences, Hunter said.