RCMP have charged a 43-year-old in relation to a fatal shooting along a busy road in Sherwood Park, Alta., Friday morning.
At around 6:30 a.m., police were called to a firearms incident on Baseline Road, between Highway 21 and Highcliff Road.
Preliminary investigations suggest a suspect fired shots toward a vehicle and then fled the area.
When emergency crews arrived, one person was found dead. One other person was taken to hospital with serious injuries, RCMP said in a media release just before 9 a.m. Friday.
With the help of RCMP police dog service, officers located the suspect near Broadway Blvd in Sherwood Park.
Two abandoned black cars were stopped facing the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of Baseline Road Friday morning.
One of the vehicles, which was up on the grass next to the road, had a shattered window and flat tire.
Several RCMP vehicles were on scene Friday morning. A yellow tarp could be seen draped over what appeared to be a body.
Sherwood Park Mayor Rod Frank said this type of incident is unusual for Strathcona County.
“It’s very traumatic whenever there’s firearms involved and it started early in the morning,” he said. “The good news is that the suspect has been apprehended.”
A motive is not yet known and Frank said it’s important that people not speculate. He added mental health resources are available through the county for those who need them by calling 780-464-4044.
“As the days evolve we’ll probably learn more about what’s behind all this but there’s really nothing to communicate on that right now, so it’s important to remain calm. The situation is contained. It’s very, very unfortunate.”
Police are now seeking dashcam footage from anyone who may have been driving in the area of Baseline Road near Highway 21 and Cloverbar Road between 6:15 a.m. and 6:45 a.m.
The east and westbound lanes of Baseline Road were shut down to traffic Friday morning between Highway 21 and Cloverbar Road. The road reopened at around 10:45 a.m.
Police believe this is an isolated, targeted incident and there is no further risk to the public.
On Saturday, RCMP said 43-year-old Gamdur Brar of Strathcona County was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Brar remains in custody until his first court appearance on Monday, May 10.
RCMP did not release any details about the deceased, nor the person who was injured in the incident. There was no update on the injured person’s condition provided Saturday.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the incident is asked to contact the Strathcona County RCMP at 780-467-7749.
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