Residents of Peerless Trout First Nation in northern Alberta were forced to stay indoors overnight after local RCMP officers spotted three individuals just north of the community on Saturday evening. The individuals were suspected of being armed after reportedly stealing firearms and firing shots earlier that day.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued for the area on Saturday evening, urging residents to remain indoors, secure their homes, avoid opening doors to strangers, and report any sightings to 911 while police searched for the suspects. The shelter-in-place directive and emergency alert were lifted on Sunday morning as authorities believed the suspects had left the vicinity, no longer posing an immediate threat.
Chief Gilbert Okemow of Peerless Trout First Nation expressed concerns about the safety of community members following the incident, noting that the situation had caused fear among residents, especially given the busy nature of the nearby highway that some members must use for work.
The suspects, who were armed and had stolen multiple firearms from a business near Red Earth Creek, Alberta, before shooting at an individual in the area, are still being sought by the police. Despite fleeing the scene initially, the suspects were later located along Highway 686, where they attempted to evade the authorities by fleeing into the forest with stolen weapons.
Following a thorough search operation and containment efforts by law enforcement, it was determined that the suspects had left the area by Sunday morning. The emergency alert was subsequently lifted, allowing residents to resume their normal activities. However, the suspects are still considered armed and dangerous, and the public is advised to contact 911 if they come across them.
Authorities continue their search for the suspects and urge caution from the public to avoid any potential encounters with the armed individuals.