Suspects in armed carjackings in Edmonton flee to Saskatchewan

SASKATOON Suspects involved in two carjackings in Edmonton and Sherwood Park overnight have fled across the border to Saskatchewan, police said Thursday morning.

At around 11:45 p.m. city police responded to a carjacking in the area of 118 Avenue and 104 Street in which a woman’s black Ford Fusion was stolen.

No more than 10 minutes later, a vehicle matching the description of the Ford Fusion was involved in a robbery of another woman around 11:55 p.m. in the area of 106 Avenue and 92 Street, police said.

Edmonton police alerted Strathcona RCMP of the carjacking and the robbery involving the stolen vehicle at around 12:30 p.m. and at the same time, a man sustained non-life threatening injuries after being shot in the shoulder and neck at a Holiday Inn Express on Broadmoor Avenue in Sherwood Park.

Five minutes later, the stolen Ford Fusion was involved in another armed carjacking with a shotgun at the Flying J gas station, where a black Chrysler 300 with Saskatchewan licence plates was stolen.

RCMP did not make it clear as to how the two incidents are linked. Police said the stolen Ford Fusion and the stolen Chrysler 300 fled the gas station and headed toward the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.

A short while later a black Ford Fusion was found engulfed in flames on Highway 16 at Range Road 195. Police have not confirmed if the burned vehicle is the same one used in the carjacking.

The Chrysler 300 was later seen travelling at a high rate of speed through the Vegreville area before being located in Saskatchewan. It is believed the occupants of the vehicle are now in Saskatchewan and still at large.

The shooting victim was transported to the Royal Alexandria hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

One man was taken into custody Thursday morning in connection with the investigation, though no charges were immediately laid, RCMP said.