Fort Smith RCMP have named and charged two Alberta men after a shooting early Saturday in the town left three people wounded, one with “life-altering injuries.”
In a Monday news release, police said 22-year-old Sheldon Tan of Calgary is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, discharging a firearm with intent, possessing property obtained by crime, and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Durrel Courtoreille, 21, of Edmonton, is accused of deploying bear spray during the same altercation, which video footage shows occurred amid a group of people outside a bar.
He is charged with assault with a weapon and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
A third person arrested on Saturday has been released without charge, police said. Regarding the two charged, RCMP emphasized in their news release: “Neither of the individuals is from the community.”
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“The three victims were transported out-of-territory for medical treatment. All are reported to be stable and expected to recover,” RCMP stated. “However, one individual was reported to have sustained life-altering injuries.”
Police told residents to shelter in place for more than half a day after issuing an “active shooter” emergency alert at 3am on Saturday, within an hour of the shooting outside Fort Smith’s Dirty O’Fergie’s bar.
The shooting and shelter in place order disrupted the town’s annual Fireweed Festival, which had just completed the first of three scheduled days.
Mayor makes appeal
RCMP have asked anyone who was present at the altercation to attend the Fort Smith detachment before 9pm on Monday to speak with an investigator.
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“We will not allow the actions of a few people to define who we are. But standing together also means standing up for our community,” Fort Smith Mayor Dana Fergusson – whose family operates the bar outside which the shooting took place – said in a Monday statement.
“The challenges we are facing with drugs and organized criminal activity are not unique to Fort Smith. Communities across Canada are dealing with this crisis. But we have a responsibility to protect the people who live here – especially those who are most vulnerable.”
Fergusson urged people with “first-hand information about drug trafficking, weapons, violence or other criminal activity” to report it.
“Don’t confront people. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk. Tell the RCMP what you know,” she wrote.
“Police need witnesses. They need statements. They need people who are willing to come forward and tell the truth about what they have seen and heard. That information can make a difference in investigations and help police identify the people who are causing harm in our community.”
