Three people were sent to hospital Saturday in what Cornwall police are calling a gang-involved shooting and what one eyewitness described as a terrifying attack pitting one groups of bikers against another.
Cornwall Police Services spokesperson Stephanie MacRae said three people were injured but could not confirm the nature of their injuries. They are in hospital in stable condition.
“There was an altercation that occurred between motorcycle gangs,” she said. She did not name the gangs.
The shooting occurred in the area of Vincent Massey Drive and 14th Street W in Cornwall, according to police, who said officers responded at about 8:20 p.m.
MacRae said several people are in custody, though she would not say how many. The investigation remains ongoing.
“We can confirm that there’s no further risk to public safety,” she said, adding that it was an “isolated” incident between people who knew each other.
Barb Leggett, a commander with Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services, also said three people were transported to a hospital in Ottawa. She could not comment on their conditions.
Boopathi Venkatesan, owner of Wow India, said he witnessed an altercation between motorcyclists from his restaurant window. (Radio-Canada)
Boopathi Venkatesan, who owns the nearby restaurant Wow India, said he saw a serious altercation at the site before police arrived.
He described four motorbikers sitting near the Cora restaurant between about 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sometime after 8 p.m., he saw a group of between eight and 12 other people arrive on motorbikes and immediately start beating the other four.
“There was a lot of blood,” he said.
Injured biker couldn’t get up: eyewitness
Venkatesan said he went to call 911 but noticed police were already arriving on the scene.
He said some of the motorbikers drove away. His view was partly obstructed by remaining motorbikes but he saw at least one person lying on the ground.
“He couldn’t stand up, so right away police came and start to give first aid,” he said.
Venkatesan said he did not see or hear gunshots, though he was inside his store watching from the window and could not hear much of the altercation either.
“This is scary,” he said. “This is something new from us … this is the first time I have seen something like this.”
Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale said the incident was shocking.
“We’re a safe community. We’re not used to seeing anything like this, and it certainly sends a shock through the entire community… People are worried, people are scared.”
Acting police chief Vincent Foy agreed that the incident was “alarming,” and rare for Cornwall.
“We have dedicated appropriate resources to actively investigate this incident and are working closely with our law enforcement partners,” he said in a statement.
‘It was crazy’
Vinai Cherian said he was working at the nearby Quickie convenience store at the time of the shooting. He heard a sound like a gunshot, though he initially thought it was a bursting tire.
Soon after, he said, a customer came into the store and said there had been a shooting.
“I took it seriously and just closed the store and stayed inside,” said Cherian.
Police came within a minute or so. He could not see the site of the altercation, which is behind the Quickie, but said he saw two motorbikers drive away as officers arrived.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
