Suspect arrested in fatal shooting east of Calgary; 2nd suspect wanted for murder

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a deadly shooting east of Calgary last week, and say a second suspect is wanted for murder.

Mounties have been looking for suspects since two people were shot, one fatally, at a rural intersection in Rocky View County on Aug. 6. The shooting led to an emergency alert for residents near Strathmore as officers searched the area for two “armed and dangerous” perpetrators.

On Sunday, RCMP arrested 35-year-old Edmonton resident Arthur Wayne Penner, with the help of Edmonton police. He remains in custody and has been charged with first degree murder and attempted murder.

Mounties say a second suspect has been identified and RCMP obtained an arrest warrant for 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry, who is wanted for murder.

“I would like to ask him to peacefully turn himself in to the nearest law enforcement agency. I can tell you that exhaustive measures are in place to try and find you,” Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz, detachment commander for the Strathmore RCMP said, speaking directly to Strawberry. “No stone is being left unturned, we’re trying to be thorough, we want to make sure we gather as much evidence as possible to piece together exactly what happened and that we can provide more answers, most importantly to the families that are affected and to Alberta residents.

“We’re hoping we can bring this matter to a swift and peaceful resolution where no one else is injured.”

Strawberry is described as a man with a light complexion, 6’1″ tall, 169 lbs, brown hair, with several arm and face tattoos. He is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who sees him is being advised to call 911.

Anyone with information on Strawberry’s whereabout is being urged to contact police, or CrimeStoppers anonymously.

RCMP have also identified a second suspect in the shooting.#Wanted: Elijah Blake Strawberry. Considered armed and dangerous. If seen, do not approach. Call 911 immediately. pic.twitter.com/7EWpH8BIzO

— RCMP Alberta (@RCMPAlberta) August 12, 2024

The shooting north of Chestermere left one man dead and another with non-life-threatening injuries. The pair were identified as a Rocky View County worker and a FortisAlberta employee.

Police believe two suspects fled the shooting scene in a stolen Rocky View County fleet vehicle that was later found abandoned in a rural area north of Strathmore.

A pickup truck that was stolen in Calgary a day earlier is also believed to be connected to the incident. RCMP say the truck was stolen from a home in the 400 block of Abadan Place NE, in the Abbeydale community, around 5:55 a.m. Monday.

It is described as a white 2013 Dodge Ram with teal-coloured aftermarket rims and shell shaped lug nuts.

Police say they are not looking for the truck, only asking for anyone who may have dashcam or security footage of the vehicle between the time it was stolen and the time of the shooting to contact Strathmore RCMP.

The pair of suspects then crashed that vehicle, according to police, and left the city looking for a new ride. It’s then believed Rocky View County employee Colin Hough found the men and thought something was wrong.

“He saw that the vehicle was set on fire and yes, he did stop and he was trying to help,” said Insp. Breanne Brown with the RCMP Serious Crimes Unit.

Police are also looking to identify the occupants of a black Volkswagen Jetta who may have witnessed the incident. Investigators are asking these people to come forward.

Investigators also believe a quad stolen on Aug. 7 just after 1:30 p.m. in Wheatland County may be connected to the investigation. Members of the public are asked to check their dash cam footage and surveillance cameras to see if they have seen the quad or its occupants.

“This is unprecedented, this is not something we typically see with the Alberta RCMP,” Brown said. “This is not normal.”