
News briefs for Monday, July 28, 2025
3:54 PM
A woman was fatally shot at a home in Keeseekoowenin First Nation early Monday.
Yellowhead RCMP were sent to the scene at about 2:45 a.m. and found the 33-year-old woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 26-year-old man. He was transported to hospital in serious condition by STARS air ambulance, and was treated and released.
RCMP said the incident was 'targeted.' They asked anyone with information related to the killing to contact them at 204-848-2659, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.
3:01 PM
Police are investigating a shooting in The Pas this winter as a homicide after the victim died, RCMP said Monday.
The 31-year-old man was shot at a home on Patrick Avenue at about 9:30 p.m. on March 7.
Shots might have been fired outside a home on Settee Avenue shortly before the Patrick Avenue incident. Hours after the second incident, another man said he was shot while sitting inside a vehicle outside a home in nearby Umpherville.
In March, RCMP said the suspects and victims in the incidents knew each other.
Police asked anyone with information related to the killing to contact RCMP at 204-627-6204, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.
1:39 PM
One woman is dead and another is charged with manslaughter after a stabbing in Thompson.
RCMP were sent to a home on Ashberry Place at about 1:40 a.m. Thursday.
Emergency crews were treating a woman for a stab wound inside the home when officers arrived. The 34-year-old woman died.
A Thompson resident, 31-year-old Tammy James, was arrested.
12:03 PM
A Winnipeg woman is facing drug charges after border agents in Calgary inspected luggage bound for Japan last month.
The luggage, which had been flagged for abnormalities on June 23, was found to contain about 30 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The traveller had already boarded their flight for Tokyo's airport when Canada Border Services Agency officers arrested her and removed from the plane. RCMP were contacted, and police began investigating the woman and the seized drugs.
An 18-year-old woman is charged with two offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and another under the Customs Act.
She was scheduled to appear in court in Calgary on Monday.

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Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Number of active extortion investigations in Surrey jumps to 26
Surrey police say the number of extortion cases they're investigating has nearly tripled since the start of June. The Surrey Police Service (SPS) launched its own dedicated counter-extortion team in early June. At the time, the SPS had 10 extortion files on the docket from this year; since then, the number has climbed to 26. SPS Sgt. Tige Pollock said the number doesn't represent a 'spike,' adding that some of the reports are for incidents that may not have happened recently. But he said it does suggest that victims are getting more comfortable talking to police. 4:36 Crime Stoppers taking tips from extortion victims 'There was a public forum that was held by some community members, the province has provided some money to Crime Stoppers for an extortion tip line, as well as Surrey Police Service has rolled out its own extortion investigation team,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'I think these factors help in the public feeling comfortable coming forward, and when they understand that police are taking this seriously, then they feel comfortable to report.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Shootings and other violent incidents linked — or suspected of links — to extortion have rattled the Lower Mainland, and particularly the South Asian business community. 4:07 RCMP reveal few details about arrests made in Surrey extortion investigation In June, an Abbotsford man with no known criminal ties was gunned down in his Surrey office, further stoking fears. Earlier this month, RCMP announced it had arrested two Surrey residents in connection with firearms, arson and extortion-related offences, but no one has been charged. That has drawn frustration from some in the community who point to the arrest and charge of multiple people in Alberta and Ontario communities also plagued by extortionists. Story continues below advertisement In Edmonton, police held a town hall on Monday night, warning of a second wave of extortion cases and calling it a resurgence. Interim Chief of police Warren Driechel said the attacks in Edmonton had stopped after several suspects were arrested in 2024 in connection to about 40 extortions and arsons targeting affluent South Asian homebuilders and business owners. 1:55 B.C. government launches extortion awareness campaign But since May, he said six more similar cases have been reported, leading investigators to believe the attacks are back and that there may be more victims. The RCMP formed the National Coordination and Support Team (NCST) last year, with the goal of supporting extortion investigations across the country. Supt Adam MacIntosh, officer in charge of the NCST, said it is critical that victims report all extortion attempts to police, and that above all, they don't pay. Story continues below advertisement 'The fact that they (the extortions) are continuing supports that people are paying, and the reason for that is because the organized crime groups involved are making money, and they wouldn't be making money and it wouldn't be continuing if it wasn't lucrative,' he said. 'It's a scary position to be in as an individual, as a member of a family, to be facing threats. But we need people to understand that they need to overcome that fear and report to us what's occurring.' — with files from the Canadian Press


Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
Extortions exposed: Edmonton police hold town hall on criminals targeting South Asian community
Article content 'Make no mistake, if we close down one avenue, there's another one that usually opens up. So they're always evolving in organized crime, and we have to evolve with that,' said Staff Sgt. Marco Antonio. Article content 'They might be looking to utilize similar techniques, thinking that they'll be luckier.' Article content A popular new U.S.-based phone app, in the cellphones of criminals from as far away as Europe and India, WhatsApp becomes a weapon letting a second string of criminals hide behind anonymity, even as they expose and exploit the personal information of their victims. Article content That meant law enforcement agencies across the country and around the world had to work with technology to go against the perpetrators. Article content Links to Lawrence Bishnoi gang Article content Agencies and multiple levels of governments are seeking new tools to ferret out international actors in the schemes —including seeking a terrorist designation for an organization known as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, led by a marginally imprisoned kingpin credited with masterminding a criminal network from behind bars in India for more than a decade. Article content Article content The label will provide additional financial and legal avenues for striking back at the shadowy organization which is suspected in Edmonton's investigation. Article content 'We know there is a connection here. We know that our complainants who have come forward have mentioned the name in a couple of the cases, so we're actively working on that part not only with the RCMP, but our ALERT partners too, in Alberta,' Gill said. Article content 'I think what we can say is that we knew that there was communications occurring between the Bishnoi group and some of the individuals involved in the project,' said interim EPS Chief Warren Driechel. Article content 'We don't necessarily know what was being controlled there, but there was definitely communication between the suspects in Project Gaslight.' Article content Those questioning the panel were guaranteed privacy, and that was a top concern for a number of people in the audience Monday. Article content Article content 'I know from a community standpoint, sometimes that trust piece can be difficult, and there could be a variety of different reasons for people not wanting to come forward to police. I get that part,' Gill told the group. Article content 'But if we don't know about it, it becomes incredibly tough to investigate.' Article content With help from the lessons of Project Gaslight, EPS has vowed to break that lucky streak when a high profile individual helped investigators — and the next wave of victims — connect dots more quickly, said Driechel. Article content 'We had the luxury, fortunately, this time, to get on it early. And I think we've actually seen events stopped because of that,' Driechel said. Article content It's important that people feel safe coming forward, Driechel said. Article content 'We know that obviously one of the things is that people fear is retribution. They fear that if they come forward, they may be targeted,' he said. Article content EPS will anonymize information throughout the court process, he said. Article content Dangers to the economy Article content Edmonton-Meadows MLA Jasvir Singh Deol said gang activity is dangerous for Edmonton's economy and business and society in general — and also for youth who are sucked in by criminals offering a promised sense of belonging. Article content In his three decades in Canada, Deol said he's never seen this unique situation. Article content 'The gangs were fighting with each other. It's taken a very different route now, targeting established businesses and really practically coming after them. They're under real threats. They have shootings at their homes, shootings at their businesses,' he said. Article content The EPS town hall was needed for the community to feel safe, he said. Article content Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the South Asian community has contributed much to the prosperity and vibrancy in Canada. Article content Article content 'I have seen South Asian communities stepping up to make our country a better place, and it is so unfortunate that South Asian community, at this time, particularly South Asian businesses, are living under fear. They're facing extortion. They're facing threats from organized crime, mostly connected to international organized crime, and we have a responsibility to support them,' he said. Article content Article content


Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Retired Mountie charged with aggravated assault in 2019 Eckville shooting
Six years after a Mountie shot a suspect in the face, charges against the now-retired RCMP officer have been laid. The incident happened west of Red Deer on the morning of April 6, 2019, when a lone Mountie was sent to investigate reports of a stolen oilfield battery. While checking vehicles parked behind a business strip in Eckville, an officer found a man sleeping in a Ford F-250 pickup truck that had been stolen from Saskatoon almost one week prior. At the time, RCMP said the officer could not confirm if this was the battery theft suspect or just a guy sleeping. The officer could see a sledgehammer and a large canister of bear spray on the truck's front seat and put down a spike belt while awaiting backup. Story continues below advertisement A confrontation then occurred between the man and the officer, ending when the member fired his gun, RCMP said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was called in to investigate and found that during the stolen property investigation, the RCMP officer shot the man in the cheek. He was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP later determined both the truck and licence plate were stolen, and confirmed the Ford was originally from Saskatoon. On Tuesday, ASIRT said the evidence gathered during its investigation provided reasonable grounds to believe that an offence had been committed. The investigation was forwarded to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether the evidence met the standard for prosecution — which it said it did. After that, ASIRT executive director Michael Ewenson determined the officer who was involved should be charged. On July 28, Geordie Erickson was charged with aggravated assault. ASIRT confirmed he is now retired. It's not known when that happened, and investigators said no further details would be released because the case is now before the courts. Erickson was released and is scheduled for his first court appearance on Aug. 28. Story continues below advertisement — With a file from The Canadian Press