Man charged with attempted murder was fired from job: sources

A man who was fired from an Edmonton pipeline company has been charged with attempted murder after one of his former co-workers was shot in a church parking lot early Monday morning.

William Hawkins, 46, of Gibbons, Alta. was tackled and held down by two of his former colleagues until police arrived.

Sources tell CBC News Hawkins was fired from his job with Somerville Pipelines last Friday.

Workers with the company were waiting at the church parking lot at 184th Street and Callingwood Road to head to a job site when a man drove up with a loaded handgun and opened fire.

A 33-year-old man sustained two gunshot wounds. He remains in hospital in stable condition.

Sources add Hawkins allegedly planned to kill others before turning the gun on himself.

Usually police release the name of individuals charged with crimes. In this case, they said Hawkins could not be identified because he was arrested under the Mental Health Act.

The police news release also did not mention that the man was fired from his job and that the incident involved his former employer.

Edmonton police have been criticized by the media for withholding Hawkins' name because it violates the principle of an open court system. Alberta RCMP and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team also make it a practice to withhold names.

Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht said he supports transparency but says it has to be balanced with people's right to privacy. He said an incident where police mistakenly released the name of a young offender during a warrant crackdown has prompted staff to be more careful.

"We're very cautious when it comes to making sure we're respecting people's right to privacy," he said. "Are we over-cautious sometimes? Perhaps we are."

Hawkins also faces a number of firearms charges. He will make his next court appearance on Monday.