Two Sylvan Lake residents were arrested after a nightclub doorman was shot and injured in Red Deer early Thursday morning. The shooting caused a police SWAT team to descend on the lake-side resort town.
Residents of Sylvan Lake’s Rainbow Park condominium complex were startled to see camouflage-wearing members of a police Emergency Response Team positioned with rifles around the outside of one of their buildings at about 9 a.m.
“It was crazy . . . Everything was completely surrounded by police with rifles drawn. It was like something out of CSI,” said a resident of the condo complex, who was concerned for her children’s safety.
Police blocked off entrances to the complex, and told residents who wandered outside to return to their units for their own protection.
By 11 a.m., police officers were seen exiting a building with an 18-year-old female and a 26-year-old male in their custody.
The man was wearing what appeared to be boxer shorts and the woman was clad in a pink housecoat that she later dropped, remaining in a T-shirt and shorts.
“Wow, I guess you don’t know who your neighbours are,” said one shaken condo resident.
Red Deer City RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Kathe DeHeer said the names of the suspects will be released after they are formally charged. This is expected to happen today.
The stake-out was prompted by a bar shooting that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. in Red Deer. City RCMP were called to the Gent’s Club on 50th Avenue downtown after an employee was shot multiple times by a disgruntled customer. According to the club’s owner, a young male and female were thrown out of the nightclub after the male insulted a barmaid.
Police allege the evicted man went to a vehicle to get a gun and returned to fire shots through the club’s door.
A 41-year-old male doorman of The Gent’s Club was hit in his hand and stomach and rushed to Red Deer hospital for treatment, said the nightclub’s owner. A bystander was also grazed by a bullet, but did not seek medical attention.
The injured employee is still in Red Deer hospital, but is doing fine, the club owner said.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my 30 years in the business,” added the owner, who asked that his name not be used because of possible repercussions.
While he’s been part of Red Deer’s nightclub scene since 1981, he said no shootings had ever happened before at any of his establishments. “I hope this is an isolated incident and not a sign that Red Deer is becoming a bigger city,” added the club owner, who supports the federal government’s aim to raise punishments for violent crimes.
While the shooting has made other staff more nervous, Gent’s Club workers recognize it’s highly unusual, he said. “It’s the first time it’s ever happened.”
Police investigating the shooting first surrounded an Oriole Park residence with an RCMP Emergency Response Team, but no suspects turned up there. Further investigation led police to the residence in Sylvan Lake, said DeHeer, who believes Red Deer City RCMP was assisted by police officers from Sylvan Lake.
DeHeer did not want to comment on the police tactics used. She said the stakeout at the high-density condo complex was done with the safety of both the public and police in mind. “If we’re investigating a crime that involved the use of a gun, we have to be more prepared. The safety of the general public is paramount, as well as the safety of our members.”
Red Deer City RCMP continues to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call 403-343-5575.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com
— copyright Red Deer Advocate