Two mounties seriously hurt in shooting; Suspect still at large
Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were seriously injured when they were shot at a casino today.
Police are searching for an armed suspect after the attack in the city of St Albert in central Alberta.
St. Albert RCMP said the officers were investigating a stolen vehicle complaint which led to an interaction with a civilian when they were shot.
RCMP Criminal Operations Officer Marlin Degrand said the officers did not have a chance to fire back at the suspect, who fled the scene.
Mr Degrand said one officer is in a very grave condition and the other is in a stable but serious condition at a local hospital. Officials have not yet released their names as the RCMP is still in the process of contacting their family members.
“Any time our members have been shot and are in hospital we consider it serious,” said Inspector Gibson Glavin.
He said police were searching for the suspect near the Sturgeon Valley Golf Club in St Albert, which is north-west of Edmonton.
Mr Glavin described the suspect as a white male, aged 25 to 35, and warned he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement on Twitter expressing his concern over the shooting.
“Canada’s thoughts & prayers are with RCMP Alberta officers today as they deal with an ongoing shooting investigation in the St. Albert area,” his tweet read.
RCMP said they cannot release information on the number of witnesses at the scene or the number of shots fired as it is an active investigation.
