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Police search for suspect following CrossIron shooting

CrossIron_Shooting
Police cordoned off the southeast parking lot at CrossIron Mills Mall following a shooting Sept. 16. Photo by Ben Sherick/Rocky View Publishing

A shooting at CrossIron Mills mall Sept. 16 drew a heavy police presence to the mall’s southeast parking lot, outside SilverCity.

At a press conference the following morning, Insp. Kimberley Pasloske, Airdrie RCMP’s detachment commander, said officers from the detachment and Calgary Police (CPS) responded to a report of an active shooter at the mall.

“Upon arrival, it was determined that the shooting occurred in the parking lot of CrossIron Mills mall, near the food court entrance,” Pasloske said. “One male was injured.”

The man was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries and, as of the press conference, was still being treated. RCMP believe the shooting was targeted, she added, and no one else was injured.

With the investigation ongoing, Pasloske did not say whether the shooting was believed to be gang-related, if the victim was known to police, or if he was co-operating.

Police continue to search for the suspect, according to Pasloske, who she described as having a slender build and being dressed fully in black. He was also wearing a ball cap and hood. At the scene Sept. 16, Cpl. Gina Slaney described the suspect as Caucasian.

“The suspect and an accomplice fled the scene in a black 2019 Dodge four-door Ram pickup,” Pasloske said. “We are still looking to identify who those individuals are.”

The vehicle is believed to have driven southbound out of the mall parking lot, she said, adding, as of the press conference, police did not have a full or partial license plate number, and she was unable to answer whether or not the truck was stolen.

“As you can understand, this was a rather chaotic incident that came in to us,” Pasloske said. “There were numerous descriptors of vehicles that were fleeing the scene in an erratic way. We did stop a number of them, and the vehicles we stopped were all citizens.”

Along with Airdrie RCMP and CPS, the incident was attended by RCMP Police Dog Services, RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT), Municipal Enforcement from Airdrie and Rocky View County (RVC), and CPS HAWCS helicopter, Pasloske said. Assistance was also provided by RCMP detachments in Cochrane and Strathmore.

Following the shooting, she said, the mall was secured and officers cleared the building store by store. The facility was cleared shortly before 1 a.m. In total, “around 600 employees and several thousand patrons” were evacuated, according to a Sept. 17 press release.

“Happening in such a public place and such a busy time is concerning,” she said. “It’s concerning to the public, but we were able to attend the scene within minutes, and secure the scene and provide for the patrons’ and employees’ safety.”

Video surveillance was collected, Pasloske said, and police continue to analyze the video.

“I anticipate that there’s going to be video surveillance from people’s cell phones,” she said. “We are looking for additional video surveillance. If somebody took images from their cell phone, we’d certainly be interested in that.”

The shooting was witnessed by many people, Pasloske said, and police continue to interview witnesses.

“There was a lot of patrons at the mall,” she said. “There’s a lot of people to speak to, and there’s a lot of people that we haven’t yet spoken to that may have fled the scene that might have information. We would absolutely be looking to speak to those individuals.”

Meanwhile, Michelle Wagner, executive director of Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society (ADVAS), encouraged anyone in need of assistance reach out to the organization.

“Victims’ Services is available to provide emotional support, referrals to counselors, as well as other supports to reduce the impacts of trauma,” she said. “Should you or one of your loved ones be impacted by last night’s incident, please feel free to reach out to us at 403-945-7290. For immediate assistance to connect with a counselor, please connect with the Distress Centre.”



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