RCMP identify 2 men accused in fatal shooting of Good Samaritan east of Calgary
County worker killed, FortisAlberta employee injured in Aug. 6 shootings
Two suspects — one in custody, one wanted on warrants — have been identified by RCMP in the fatal shooting that took place last week east of Calgary in what police are now describing as a carjacking of a man who was trying to act as a Good Samaritan.
Just before noon on Aug. 6, police were called to the rural intersection at Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, just north of Chestermere, for reports of a shooting.
Officers found Rocky View County employee Colin Hough, 45, fatally wounded and a FortisAlberta employee suffering a "superficial" wound. Police have not identified the injured man.
On Monday, investigators announced a major break in the case.
Police arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, in Edmonton on Sunday. He was charged with first-degree murder on Monday and is scheduled to appear in court later this week.
Second-degree murder warrants were issued for Elijah Blake Strawberry, 28.
Strawberry is the same man who appeared in a Cochrane doorbell camera image released by RCMP last week as a "person of interest."
Strawberry is six feet one inch, weighs about 170 pounds and is described as having a light complexion and several arm and face tattoos.
Police stress that Strawberry is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees the suspect is urged to call 911 and not approach.
At a press conference Monday night in Strathmore, about 50 kilometres east of Calgary, RCMP offered new details about the investigation and the circumstances surrounding the shootings.
According to police, the two suspects were driving around Calgary in a stolen vehicle.
When the pair got into a minor collision, they began looking for a replacement set of wheels.
Hough tried to help
That's when they came to the rural intersection near Chestermere, east of Calgary, set the stolen truck on fire and attempted to steal the vehicle of a Fortis employee, who was at the scene.
"This is unprecedented, this is not something we typically see with the Alberta RCMP. This is not normal and I can't speak to what they were thinking at the time," said Insp. Breanne Brown with RCMP major crimes unit.
Hough came across that scene and believed the men needed help.
"When Mr. Hough arrived on scene he saw that the vehicle was set on fire and he did stop and try to help," said Brown.
'Mr. Strawberry is watching'
The surviving victim is recovering from his injuries, according to Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz, who spoke with reporters in Strathmore on Monday.
"We've relied on a lot of the information he's provided to us, which was very helpful," said Wielgosz.
In an effort to secure a "swift and peaceful resolution," Wielgosz issued a direct plea to Strawberry.
"Mr. Strawberry is watching. I would like to ask him to peacefully turn himself in to the nearest law enforcement agency," said the officer.
"Exhaustive measures are in place to try and find you."