At approximately 4:15 p.m. yesterday, Tuesday, March 27, 2018, police received information about a possible home invasion and kidnapping at a residence in the area of 106 Avenue and 123 Street. It is alleged that two males were abducted at gunpoint, assaulted and robbed by a group of individuals. At some point thereafter, the two men were able to escape with non-life-threatening injuries.
Several hours later, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Tuesday, police spotted a stolen vehicle believed to have been involved in the kidnapping from earlier that day. The stolen vehicle allegedly met with a second stolen vehicle, which was later found to have been stolen from Fort Saskatchewan on March 27, 2018.
Both stolen vehicles were witnessed driving northbound on Manning Drive, north of 153 Avenue, when one of the suspect vehicles engaged in what police are referring to as a road rage incident with an uninvolved motorist. The stolen vehicles continued to the intersection of 18 Street and Manning Drive, where they stopped and a firearm was allegedly discharged and the motorist was struck. The motorist lost control of his vehicle and veered into a ditch off Manning Drive and 18 Street. The 38-year-old male motorist is currently in hospital with life-threatening injuries as a result of the shooting and is not known to the suspects.
Following the shooting, both suspect vehicles continued to travel northbound toward Gibbons where they were later stopped with the assistance of Air1, the EPS Canine and Tactical Unit, Northeast Division officers and the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP. A number of weapons were recovered during this investigation.
Investigators have a number of individuals in custody for interview, although no charges have been formally laid at this time.
Police continue to comb through a series of scenes believed to be connected to the crime spree.
No further information is available at this time.