RCMP arrest 2nd suspect in killing of Rocky View County worker east of Calgary

Mounties in Alberta arrested a murder suspect on Friday afternoon who led police on a more than month-long manhunt following a fatal shooting east of Calgary.

In an update Friday evening, RCMP announced the arrest of 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder in the killing of a Rocky View County employee on Aug. 6.

Strawberry was taken into custody just after 1 p.m. at a residence in O’Chiese First Nation by members of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit.

“Our investigators were at a residence on another matter,” said RCMP Chief Superintendent Roberta Mckale. “The major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence.”

Mckale says search efforts to find Strawberry spanned the province and were largely based on tips from the public.

“We received tips and information from the public over the course of the last few weeks,” said RCMP Chief Superintendent Roberta Mckale. “Alberta RCMP had a significant coordinated effort with many units engaged from across the province offering thousands of hours of work.”

“We were concerned for the safety of our members, as well as the public in this event, because Mr. Strawberry had clearly demonstrated violence.”

Double shooting on rural road east of Calgary

RCMP believe 35-year-old Arthur Wayne Penner, who was arrested on Aug. 11, and Strawberry, headed out to Rocky View County looking for a new vehicle after the one they had stolen the day before in Calgary was partially disabled in a minor accident.

It’s alleged the suspects burned the stolen vehicle, with a plan to steal the truck of a FortisAlberta employee working near Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, just north of Chestermere.

Police say that’s when Rocky View County worker Colin Hough pulled over to help, at which time he and the Fortis employee were shot.

The pair then stole Hough’s Rocky View County pickup truck and drove northeast of the scene to Wheatland County, before dumping it.

A shelter-in-place alert was issued after police located the abandoned truck using a GPS system, and was eventually ended after RCMP determined the pair were no longer in the area.

Strawberry was wanted on a second-degree murder charge and will be taken before a justice of the peace to determine his release status and future court date. Penner is facing a first-degree murder charge and has been remanded in custody.

Mckale says both suspects were previously known to police.

Police are not looking for any other suspects but say the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing. Anyone with further information is being urged to contact police.