CHESTERMERE – The community was abuzz with talk of a homicide after bystanders heard shots fired in the darkness of the Safeway parking lot around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Members of the local RCMP were the first to respond after receiving calls from the public.
Although shots were fired at the scene, no one was hit, but two males suffered physical assault injuries. They were immediately attended to by EMS personnel and transported to hospital via ground ambulance.
It is believe that a large number of people, up to approximately 20, were involved in a physical confrontation in the Safeway parking lot. During the time of the incident, the power was out in the area, leaving the scene in almost total darkness.
Staff Sgt. Glenn Henry said on Monday that as far as he knew, the power outage and the incident were unrelated.
“However it did make things more difficult for us in examining the area,” he said, adding that it will also reduce visibility on any available security tapes.
The scene was secured for hours, and a close examination of the parking lot was conducted. Two shell casings were recovered. Two vehicles, which had been left at the scene, were seized and examined as well. Henry said that the vehicles left behind were believed to be those of the assault victims.
Henry said that although the Calgary Police Service were also conducting investigations of shootings in the city from the same evening, there was no indication that the events in Chestermere and Calgary were related.
“That could change,” he said. “We’re dealing with a lot of twists and turns at the moment.”
Investigations in Chestermere and Calgary were continuing at press time. The Chestermere RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining what occurred at the scene, as well as who was involved.
If anyone has any information in this crime or any other please contact the Chestermere RCMP at 403- 207-8777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
Crime stoppers will pay cash rewards up to $2000.00 for information that leads to an arrest, the recovery of stolen property or seizure of illegal drugs. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and the identity of the caller will remain anonymous.
