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 fatal carjacking of a man who was trying to act as a Good Samaritan.
Just before noon last Tuesday, 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, weighing 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 in Strathmore — about 50 kilometres east of Calgary — Monday night, 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.
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 Insp. Breanne Brown with RCMP Major Crimes Unit.
“This is unprecedented, this is not something we typically see with the Alberta RMCP. This is not normal and I can’t speak to what they were thinking at the time.”
‘Mr.Strawberry is watching’
The surviving victim is recovering from his injuries, according to Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgocz, who spoke with reporters in Strathmore Monday night.
“We’ve relied on a lot of the information he’s provided to us, which was very helpful,” said Wielgocz.
In an effort to secure a “swift and peaceful resolution,” Wielgocz issued a direct plea to Strawberry.
“Mr. Strawberry is watching; I would like to ask him to peacefully turn himself into the nearest law enforcement agency,” said the officer.
“Exhaustive measures are in place to try and find you.”