-Edmonton police are continuing to investigate following last night’s shooting at West Edmonton Mall.
Acting Chief Darren Derko says they believe it was a targeted incident and not random in nature:
“So last night, around 7:40pm, police responded to a shooting at WEM, and it was reported that four males had left the mall and went to their vehicle, when a second vehicle, a white SUV, approached them and there was an exchange of gunfire.
Two of the males collapsed on the pavement with serious injuries, while the two others fled into the mall.
One had gunshot wounds and ran to the Wild West Shooting Range, while the other fled through the mall, and we don’t believe he was wounded.
At this time, that fourth male has not been found, nor have the occupants of the white SUV.”
Derko says forensic work still has to be done, but they believe they’ve found the SUV.
The mall was placed on lockdown while the police tact-squad went through the building.
During that sweep, officers found a handgun inside the mall that they believe was involved in the incident.
The three males who were shot wound up with serious, but non-life-threatening wounds and are still in the hospital.
Derko says they don’t know who these two groups are, or the motivation for the shooting, but that’s something they’re working on as the investigation continues.
He says they don’t believe there’s a risk to the community, but he says they are “incredibly lucky” that no one lost their life last night and that no innocent people were injured.
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-Several people are in the hospital, following an explosion at an abandoned building in downtown Prince George, BC this morning.
Exactly how many people have been hurt and the extent of their injuries isnt known.
At this point it’s unclear what caused the explosion.
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-BC Premier David Eby says at least 50 homes have been destroyed by the wildfire in West Kelowna, and they’re expecting that number to grow.
More than 27-thousand people in BC are currently out of their homes, and more than 35-thousand are on alert.
About one hundred firefighters from Mexico will be landing in BC today, while 2-hundred from South Africa will arrive by Friday.
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-The fire near Yellowknife hasn’t crept any closer to the city, as some rain allowed crews to attack it directly yesterday.
Fire Information Officer Mike Westwick says right now, they’re more concerned about the ones near Fort Smith and Hay River.
Officials with Emergency-Management say checkpoints are being set up, so only essential workers are being allowed in.
That’s following reports some residents have been heading back without getting the green light.
About 90-percent of the hamlet of Enterprise was destroyed last week.
Westwick says they’re doing everything they can to try and get people back home safely.
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-With thousands of evacuees from the Northwest Territories in Alberta, the Edmonton Elks are providing them with free tickets to Sunday’s game against the Ottawa RedBlacks.
Evacuees who’d like to go to the game can claim their tickets at any window at Commonwealth Stadium on game day, by showing their evacuation wristband or their Northwest Territories drivers licence.
A number of places around the city are offering up distraction relief for evacuees, including the Edmonton Riverhawks and ReMax Field and the Telus World of Science.
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-Jays are back in action tonight as they meet Baltimore for the first of three games.
Jays are just one game back of Seattle for the final wildcard spot. 5:05 start this evening.
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-The Edmonton Elks have brought back Rick LeLacheur as their Interim President and CEO.
He had that job from 2002 to 2011, and is back in the role, effective immediately.
His most recent gig was President of the BC Lions, between 2018 and last year.
He’ll be at the helm for the Elks til a new President is found by the end of this year.
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