A man on the Samson Cree Nation is dead after an early morning altercation.
Around 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 11, members of the Maskwacis RCMP responded to a home on the Samson reserve to follow up on a complaint that a man was in medical distress after an apparent fight at the residence.
Both RCMP and medical personnel attended the scene to provide assistance to the 55-year-old man, including efforts to resuscitate him.
Unfortunately, those efforts were not successful and the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The RCMP’s major crimes unit from Calgary have taken over the investigation, classified now as a homicide. They are being assisted by RCMP members from the Maskwacis Crime Reduction Unit and the general investigation section member from both Maskwacis and Wetaskiwin.
On Dec. 13, police laid a manslaughter charge against Colin Reed, who was remanded in custody and made his first appearance in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court that same day.
An autopsy was performed on Dec. 12 in Edmonton, but a cause of death was not released by press time.
RCMP have stated the investigation is ongoing and no additional details will be released at the present time. However, an update on the case is expected if any new information is found.