Residents of Peerless Trout First Nation in northern Alberta were required to stay indoors overnight following the sighting of three individuals just north of the community by local RCMP on Saturday evening. The individuals were suspected of being armed after allegedly stealing multiple firearms and firing shots earlier in the day. An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued for the area, instructing residents to stay inside, secure their homes, avoid opening doors to strangers, and report any sightings to emergency services.
The shelter-in-place order and emergency alert were lifted the following morning as the police believed the suspects had left the vicinity, reducing the potential threat to the community. Chief Gilbert Okemow of Peerless Trout First Nation expressed concern for community members, emphasizing the need for safety precautions as the suspects’ identities and origin were unknown, though their intentions were clearly malicious.
The suspects, armed and involved in the theft of firearms from a business near Red Earth Creek, Alberta, and subsequent shooting incident, were not apprehended at the scene. Following multiple sightings of the suspect vehicle, law enforcement located the suspects on Highway 686, prompting a search operation. The suspects fled upon police arrival, taking firearms with them.
The Alberta Emergency Alert was activated, and a dangerous-person alert was issued, prompting a shelter-in-place directive as authorities intensified efforts to locate the suspects. By the early hours of Sunday, it was determined that the suspects had vacated the area, leading to the cancellation of the emergency alert and the resumption of normal activities for residents. Despite this, the suspects were still considered armed and dangerous, with the public urged to report any sightings to the authorities and avoid direct contact.