Man shot dead, teenage roommate in custody
A 21-year-old man was shot to death this morning in his northwest Edmonton apartment, and police have his teenage roommate in custody.
Staff Sgt. Bill Clark of the homicide unit said the 19-year-old who was arrested this morning will likely be charged later today with manslaughter.
Clark characterized the shooting as accidental, and said it shows how dangerous it can be to take drugs and drink alcohol when weapons are around.
It this case, Clark said, the weapon was a small-calibre handgun.
Police and EMS responded at about 12:40 a.m. Thursday to a report of shots fired in the area of 155th Avenue and 106th Street.
When officers got to the apartment building, they found the 21-year-old dead in the living room of his suite.
His roommates, a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, concocted a story, Clark said, and initially told police they had seen three black men running from the area.
None of that was true.
Residents of the area told CBC News they were awakened by screams and crying just after midnight.
Ashlee MacDouell looked outside and saw one of her neighbours on his knees.
"He was so distraught. He was saying, 'My friend was shot.' "
Clark said the young man under arrest has expressed remorse.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area to call them.
