Red Deer City RCMP want to speak with three men believed to be involved in a shooting that sent a 29-year-old man to hospital with non life-threatening injuries early Wednesday evening.
Police believe the shooting incident began on the east side of Gaetz Avenue just north of the Red Deer Mohawk gas station on 54th Street around 7:30 p.m.
Cpl. Kathe DeHeer said two groups of men were involved in some sort of altercation when one group fled on foot south past the Mohawk then turned east on to the north side of 54th Street and were followed by the victim and three other men.
Several shots were fired and the victim was shot at this time.
The victim and three other men left in a gold or beige-coloured Chrysler 300, which was parked to the north of the Mohawk.
The victim was dropped off at Red Deer Regional Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Edmonton. The victim remains in hospital suffering from a single gunshot wound to his torso.
Police would like to speak with the three men who were with the victim.
Around 7:30 p.m., Wasakoo Tower residents heard what sounded like five gunshots in the area of 54th Street and 48th Avenue in Red Deer.
A few residents said they looked out their windows immediately after and saw three men “booking it” down 54th Street and running down an alleyway between two apartment buildings on 48th Avenue.
“I heard pop, pop, pop and I knew it was gunshots,” said a resident who requested anonymity
Areas around the Red Deer Mohawk gas station (at 5407 49th Ave.) and 54th Street between 49th Avenue and 48th Avenue were taped off for a few hours immediately after the incident.
Matthew Sage, the manager of the Liquor Store on 49th Avenue, across the street from the Mohawk, was shocked to hear there was a shooting in the relatively safe neighbourhood. Sage wasn’t on shift last night but when his employee called him, he was surprised.
“Never thought something like that would happen here,” said Sage, noting his employee was not alarmed because there were many police vehicles at the scene. “This is the first time something happened so close.”
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call Red Deer City RCMP at 403-343-5575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com