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Guard opens eyes, squeezes wife’s hand

The wife of a guard who survived a deadly armoured car robbery in Edmonton says her husband has opened his eyes at least once and squeezed her hand.In a statement Tuesday, Jennifer Schuman said her husband, Matthew Schuman, remains in critical but stable condition in hospital after the shooting early Friday morning.“I was in absolute shock when I received the phone call at 1 a.m. that Matthew was involved in an accident. My focus was on getting to the hospital and being by his side,” she said.

EDMONTON — The wife of a guard who survived a deadly armoured car robbery in Edmonton says her husband has opened his eyes at least once and squeezed her hand.

In a statement Tuesday, Jennifer Schuman said her husband, Matthew Schuman, remains in critical but stable condition in hospital after the shooting early Friday morning.

“I was in absolute shock when I received the phone call at 1 a.m. that Matthew was involved in an accident. My focus was on getting to the hospital and being by his side,” she said.

“Sunday evening was the first time that he opened his eyes and squeezed my hand. Shortly thereafter he went back to sleep. We remain cautiously optimistic that his condition will improve.”

Matthew Schuman was one of five G4S security guards loading a bank machine at the University of Alberta when shots rang out.

Four guards were shot. Eddie Rejano, 39, Michelle Shegelski, 26, and Brian Ilesic, 35, died.

Police have said the fifth guard was Travis Baumgartner. The 21-year-old was arrested at a U.S. border crossing near Abbotsford, B.C., on the weekend. Police say he was carrying $330,000 in a backpack.

“I was very relieved to hear that the attacker was captured and I was pleased that he was alive in hopes that he co-operates and explains his actions, because he has affected so many lives,” Jennifer Schuman said.

“His actions have angered an entire country, and I hope that at one point he can comprehend the level of damage he has done.”

Baumgartner was to be returned to Edmonton this week where he is expected to be formally charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. None of those charges has been proven in court.