Ottawa

Store clerk shaken after shootout in Overbrook

An 18-year-old man is facing a slew of charges following a running gun battle in Ottawa's Overbrook neighbourhood Thursday afternoon. Sandeep Kaur got a front row seat.

RCMP arrest 18-year-old after running shootout in Overbrook

Clerk Sandeep Kaur was working at a convenience store in the area when two men burst in, one of whom was carrying a gun. (Stu Mills/CBC)

A convenience store clerk got a front row seat to a running gun battle in Overbrook on Thursday.

Sandeep Kaur was working Thursday afternoon when a panicked man ran into her store asking if there was a rear exit. She said he was followed by an armed man, just seconds behind.

"I grabbed my key and started running toward the door so I can lock everybody inside for safety," she said.

The shooter came inside the store, they were chasing each other inside the store- Sandeep Kaur, clerk

Kaur didn't get to the door in time and soon the armed man was inside.

"The shooter came inside the store, they were chasing each other inside the store," she said.  

Kaur said the police handled the incident well, but she's concerned about rising levels of violence in the neighbourhood. 

"I really hope they do something, because it's not the first time, not second time, it's regularly happening in Overbrook."

Ottawa police said they received multiple calls around 4:45 p.m. reporting two men running through the area around Prince Albert Street and Edith Avenue and shooting at one another.

No one was injured, but police said two vehicles were struck in the gunfire, one of which was occupied by a man.

RCMP officers who were in the area arrested one of the suspects after a short foot chase, but the other suspect got away.

Police seized a loaded handgun as well as OxyContin, cocaine and crack cocaine worth approximately $5,000, Ottawa police said.

Weapons, drug charges

The 18-year-old has been charged with several weapons offences including careless use of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence and registration.

He's also been charged with three counts of possessing an illegal substance for trafficking.

Police are still looking for the second man involved.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa police's guns and gangs unit at 613-236-1222 extension 5050 or to submit an anonymous tip through their app or Crime Stoppers.