By Jasmine Franklin
It’s been more than one year since Hobbema First Nations have had to deal with gang-related shooting but after a recent incident, RCMP are sending the message that gang action will not be tolerated.
A 22-year-old woman was airlifted by STARS to the University of Alberta Hospital April 30 after being shot at a residence in the Samson townsite around 1:15 a.m. She is in stable condition. Hobbema Insp. Lawrence Aimoe said the shooting is believed to be gang-related.
“I don’t see this as a setback for our community,” Aimoe said at a press conference. “These incidents have become very rare in our community and we hope to keep it that way.”
RCMP responded to the shooting and immediately called in a police service dog from Wetaskiwin that led officers to the home where Clinton Roy Green, 20, of the Samson First Nation was charged in relation to the shooting.
Emergency response teams (ERT) entered the home and arrested Green who was believed to be in possession of a large calibre rifle.
The arrest was described as “peaceful.”
Adults and children were safely evacuated from the home.
“We went quite some time without something like this happening and we continue to work hard with multiple programs ensuring these incident do not occur,” Aimoe said.
Aimoe said Green is a known Hobbema gang member and remains in custody. Details including the number of shots fired and whether the victim and shooter were known to one another are being withheld until the investigation is concluded.
Aimoe said this incident will not set the community back after their hard work to reduce violent crime.
“Prevention and education for our youth is the key,” he said. “This was just an unfortunate incident that we do not expect to continue. Big problems take a long time to solve but the bottom line is that the community won’t tolerate this.”
Hobbema has initiated several projects to prevent community violence including a domestic violence unit about to be launched, an eviction bylaw, the family violence unit and programs such as the Hobbema Community Cadet Corps to educate youths.
“We are on a good path and will continue on that path,” Aimoe said.
Green was scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin provincial court May 4 and is facing several firearms charges including discharging a firearm with intent to endanger life.