HOBBEMA — The killing has to stop say Hobbema residents in the wake of Monday’s shooting death of a 23-year-old woman.
She was gunned down outside, next door to where her nephew was shot in July.
The woman, identified as Chelsea Yellowbird by residents, was the aunt of Ethan Yellowbird, five, who died from a gunshot fired outside while he was asleep in his bed in a home just off a main road in Samson Cree First Nation townsite on July 11.
No arrests have been made in either shooting in the community plagued by gang violence.
“It just opened the wounds from (Ethan’s shooting) that happened next door. The wounds are still fresh and painful,” said Hobbema resident Winston Northwest who walked the street outside the victims’ homes on Tuesday waving a flag he made. His uncle Joe Northwest wore a sign that spelled out peace.
“We just want to show people we care. I love my community. It’s hard to see it in this state.”
Joe Northwest said people are in shock and they are fearful, but the community has to be part of the solution.
“We’re not just doing this for Chelsea or Ethan. We’re doing this for all the people who went though this,” said Joe Northwest about their protest to end the violence.
“We need a peaceful community. We want the community to be back the way it was.”
Northwest and his nephew plan to hold a rally today and will gather across the street from the Samson administration office at noon.
“A lot of these younger children would like to build a better life. It’s a bad environment. But the community has to make that change.”
A resident who lives near the homes where the shootings occurred said she often hears gunfire outside and heard shots Monday.
RCMP were called out to a complaint of shots fired at about 2:55 a.m.
“It is scary when you have kids and you’re that close to all the drama,” said Denise who did not want to give her last name.
She has seen children as young as 10 selling drugs for gangs and her 14-year-old daughter was approached to join a gang.
“I won’t even allow her to go out at night. I don’t know who she’s hanging around with, if they’re OK or if they’re gang-affiliated.”
She said police know who belongs to local gangs and gang members should be kicked off the reserve instead of waiting for more shootings.
Residents have been scared to speak out in the past, she said.
“I think maybe now they will actually come together and do something. I know there are a lot of frustrated people.”
An autopsy is scheduled for the latest shooting victim.
RCMP Sgt. Patrick Webb of Calgary said officers with the RCMP’s major crimes department are in Hobbema and the investigation is continuing.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com