Residents of Peerless Trout First Nation in northern Alberta were forced to stay indoors overnight after local RCMP encountered three individuals just north of the community on Saturday evening. The trio was suspected of being armed and involved in a gun robbery and shooting incident earlier that day.
The situation prompted an Alberta Emergency Alert for the area on Saturday evening, advising residents to remain indoors, secure their homes, avoid opening doors to strangers, and report any sightings to 911. The RCMP’s shelter-in-place directive and the emergency alert were lifted on Sunday morning, as law enforcement believed the suspects had left the vicinity, removing the immediate threat to the community.
Chief Gilbert Okemow of Peerless Trout First Nation expressed concerns about the safety of community members following the incident. He highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the identities and origins of the individuals involved, emphasizing that the community was aware of their suspicious activities.
According to RCMP reports, the suspects, who allegedly stole firearms from a business near Red Earth Creek, Alberta, and fired shots in the area, remained at large after fleeing the scene. The police were alerted to sightings of the suspect vehicle later in the evening, leading to the discovery of the suspects along Highway 686, north of Peerless Trout First Nation.
Upon encountering law enforcement, the suspects attempted to flee into the forest, taking firearms with them. A search operation was conducted, prompting the issuance of an Alberta Emergency Alert and a shelter-in-place order for the safety of residents. The suspects were not found in the area by Sunday morning, leading to the cancellation of the emergency alert.
Although the suspects were believed to have left the immediate vicinity, RCMP emphasized that they were still armed and dangerous. Residents were urged to avoid contact with the suspects and to report any sightings to the authorities by calling 911.