3 men, 3 teens arrested in Wetaskiwin after gunfire and 300-km highway chase
Six people were arrested in the Wetaskiwin area Friday following a police chase that began in Lac La Biche and ended when an RCMP officer fired his gun.
The incident began around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, when RCMP officers responded to a complaint about gunshots in Lac La Biche, about 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
A vehicle with several occupants drove into a parking lot near an apartment complex and two shots were fired towards two other vehicles, according to police.
All three vehicles then left the parking lot and the RCMP couldn't find them.
Although the vehicles may have been hit with gunfire, there is no indication that anyone was injured, police said in a news release Friday night.
Redwater
Then, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Redwater RCMP responded to a complaint of an attempted armed robbery.
Several occupants of a vehicle matching the description from the earlier complaint demanded money from someone who was outside a gas station in Redwater, police said.
One of the occupants reportedly pointed a gun at the person who refused to comply with the demands, and the suspects fled, according to police.
Redwater RCMP found the vehicle and a brief pursuit ensued but was terminated by police.
RCMP were then alerted to a complaint of another attempted armed robbery near Redwater.
A male who was stopped roadside in his vehicle was confronted by several armed suspects who shot him in the arm in an attempt to get into his vehicle, police said.
Edmonton
The suspects fled and the injured male was transported to an Edmonton hospital where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect vehicle was then located by Edmonton police in their jurisdiction and the Edmonton police tactical unit and dog services pursued it.
The pursuit continued into Leduc and Wetaskiwin where Edmonton police were joined by the RCMP.
Wetaskiwin arrests and shot fired
The suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot north of Wetaskiwin, according to the RCMP.
Police managed to arrest all five suspects with the help of the Edmonton police and RCMP dog units, and information from the public.
At a nearby police checkpoint, a second vehicle believed to be associated with the group became involved, which led an officer to fire his gun, RCMP said.
The suspect in the second vehicle was not hit and was taken into custody.
Both the vehicles involved in the pursuit and the confrontation were determined to be stolen; one from Caslan, Alta., and one from Devon, police said.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which examines incidents involving police that lead to serious injury or death, or allegations of police misconduct, is investigating.
All suspects are in custody in Wetaskiwin, including a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, an 18-year-old woman and three men aged 23, 24 and 33.
Wetaskiwin is almost 300 kilometres from Lac La Biche.
