By PAUL COWLEY
Red Deer Advocate
It’s been a year since someone went on a New Year’s Day shooting spree north of Rimbey that saw a shot fired into a rural house filled with family members — and more rounds pumped into a pickup parked outside another home.
Rimbey RCMP are hoping that someone may have a scrap of information or heard something over the last few months that may prove helpful.
“It may not seem like much to them, but it may be that little piece to the puzzle that we’re looking for,” said RCMP Sgt. Mark Groves.
It is believed the pickup was shot up first around 11 p.m. on a property near the Iola Road and Hwy 20 about 15 kilometres north of Rimbey. The shooter then travelled west on the Iola Road a short distance and took a shot at the house.
Police were called within minutes of the incidents but were unable to catch anyone in the rural area crisscrossed with quiet country routes and oil lease roads.
“From evidence left at the scene, they left at a high rate of speed from the area,” Groves said.
Fortunately, no one was injured in either of the incidents. But the house that was hit was full of members of an extended family, including children, sharing the holidays together.
“There was a good number of people within the residence,” Groves said.
As police cruisers searched the area, four deer were found shot to death. One had been wounded and died later and three others were found shot in a group.
“It is believed at this time due to the close proximity of all the shots being fired and the time frame, it’s believed they may be all linked to the same culprits,” he said.
From the start, RCMP took the incidents very seriously and pulled in extra resources, Groves explained. A dog team and forensic team were also called in. Police conducted extensive interviews with victims and other rural residents.
“There’s no evidence at this time to show there’s any connection to these people,” he said. “There’s no evidence to indicate they were targeted, and it’s believed to be just an isolated incident.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Rimbey RCMP at 403-843-2224 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.