Three charged with attempted murder in shooting

CRIME • Three men have been charged with attempted murder after shots were fired at a bar in southern Alberta.

Lethbridge Regional Police were dispatched to the Studio 54 nightclub on reports of gunfire early Friday.

Police say three men entered the club, one produced a handgun and a 30-year-old man was then shot in the torso at closerange. Bar staff tried to restrain the men, but backed off after the gunman fired several additional rounds in the air. The employees retreated on request, and the offenders fled.

The 30-year-old victim suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to Chinook Regional Hospital and then via STARS air ambulance to a Calgary hospital. He remains in stable condition, according to a report released late Saturday. No one else was injured. On Friday, investigators were led to a hotel where three men were arrested.

Police believe the shooting was a targeted crime related to the drug trade.

Rage Hassan Islow, 23, Yaqoub Mahad Ali, 23, of Edmonton and Abdirahman Moha Islow, 21, of Toronto have been charged with multiple offences, including attempted murder using a firearm, aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon.

All three accused have been remanded in custody to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on April 10.