Shooting east of Calgary leaves 1 dead, suspects still at large

One person is dead and two suspects are still at large after a shelter-in-place order for residents of Wheatland County was lifted on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening, Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz said investigators decided to lift a shelter-in-place order after they had determined two suspects, who were described as armed and extremely dangerous in an Alberta Emergency Alert, were no longer in the area and therefore not a threat to the public. 

Wielgosz said that at approximately noon on Tuesday, officers from Strathmore, Chestermere and Airdrie responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, east of Conrich, Alta, about six kilometres east of Calgary. 

Upon arriving at the scene, officers found one person deceased from an apparent gunshot wound, and another who had sustained superficial gunshot wounds but was still alive.

Rocky View County identified the person who was killed as Colin Hough.

Byron Riemann, chief administrative officer of Rocky View County, described Hough as a colleague.

"This tragic and senseless act has deeply affected us all," Riemann said in a statement. "Colin was a valued member of our team, and we extend our deepest condolences to Colin's family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time."

In an emailed statement on Wednesday, FortisAlberta confirmed to CBC News that the man who was injured is an employee of the utility. He was doing routine work when he was shot, according to FortisAlberta, and was then treated and released from hospital Tuesday evening.

"We are grateful that our employee is recovering and we are providing any support he, his family and his colleagues need at this time," a FortisAlberta spokesperson said.

Officers determined that two suspects fled the scene in a stolen Rocky View County fleet vehicle. Wielgosz said police do not have a description of the suspects at this time. 

Investigators tracked the getaway vehicle to another location roughly 12 kilometres north of Strathmore, near Range Road 260 and Township Road 252. 

The vehicle had been abandoned, which is when the shelter-in-place order was initially issued, said Wielgosz, around 1 p.m. He added that officers then conducted a search of the surrounding area, including private properties, and were unable to locate the suspects.

"There was extensive search of all of the neighbouring areas and properties with all of the resources … to ensure that we could conclusively say [the suspects] were no longer there and to lift the emergency alert," said Wielgosz.

The shelter-in-place order was lifted at approximately 4:30 p.m. 

Wielgosz added that police don't believe the shooting was targeted and that current risk for area residents is low.

"I do not anticipate that these individuals are still in the area. Of course … we do encourage our residents to report suspicious activity. Certainly things that are out of the normal and our rural residents certainly know what's normal. They know who their neighbours are and what's out of place.

"Again, I want to stress to the community at large and the public that the RCMP is here to make sure that our communities are safe. We work closely with all of our law enforcement agencies and we will leave no stone unturned to identify these subjects and we would bring all resources necessary to bear to see that outcome come true."

Wielgosz said that more information would be provided to the public as soon as possible, and that officers and forensic teams continue to investigate both scenes. 

Police are asking members of the public who were in the area of the incident between the hours of 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to check any dashcam and trail cam footage for images of a white Rocky View County fleet vehicle. 

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, an Alberta Emergency Alert said two armed and extremely dangerous suspects were in the area of Highway 564 and Range Road 252 north of Strathmore.

Residents within the following township roads were asked to stay inside and not open their doors:

• North border — Township Road 262.
• East border — Range Road 245.
• South border — Township Road 252.
• West border — Range Road 255.