Two people were shot on the Samson Cree Nation this weekend in separate gang-related incidents RCMP said “posed a significant safety risk” to innocent people.
Both shootings, which happened “between” Saturday and Sunday, are the result of “increased tension between rival gangs,” Maskwacis RCMP said in a news release.
“In both instances, a person was shot after a suspect or suspects fired a gun indiscriminately towards a residence,” the news release said.
Both victims were treated at the Wetaskiwin hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
“Due to the indiscriminate nature of the shooting, both crimes posed a significant safety risk to innocent persons,” RCMP said. “In one instance, a bullet narrowly missed a 15-month-old infant.”
RCMP said they are “very concerned for the public’s safety and would like to remind the residents they need to be careful.
“Allowing gang members or gang associates into your residence, whether or not they are family, increases the risk to your personal safety and to the safety of your loved ones.”
In 2011, a five-year-old boy died was killed on the reserve after he was struck by a stray bullet fired from outside the house. A woman inside the home sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.
The recent shootings are being investigated by Maskwacis RCMP and the Wetaskiwin/Maskwacis general investigation section.
Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
Samson Cree Nation is part of Maskwacis, which is 100 kilometres south of Edmonton.