Story by Chris Hunter, mylakelandnow.com
Bonnyville RCMP have announced that they have arrested one suspect and have issued warrants for the arrest of two others in the La Corey car theft that saw one of the victim’s co-workers shot while pursuing them.
On November 9th, a black Ford Escape pulled into the Hawkeye’s Liquor Store parking lot. A man dressed in a grey gymsuit holding a machete got out of the passenger side and got into 2015 black Ford F350 that was left running and unlocked with the keys in it and drove off narrowly running over the owner who exited the liquor store.
Co-workers of the owner of the truck were nearby and located the stolen truck on Hwy 55 and started following it Westbound, not realizing they were in turn being followed by the Ford Escape. The driver of the stolen Ford F350 promptly stopped and backed up towards the co-workers and rammed their vehicle. At the same time, the Ford Escape drove past the co-workers and a shotgun round was fired at their truck, striking the driver who has since been treated and released from hospital.
After investigation, Bonnyville RCMP made their first arrest in the case on Tuesday. She cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act ans is facing nine Criminal Code charges. She has been released to attend court in December.
The other two suspects however, remain at large. Cashton Cole L’Hirondelle is facing ten Criminal Code charges including:
Theft of a motor vehicle
Possession of property obtained by the commission of an offence
Assault with a weapon
Carry a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Possess a firearm without a license
Possess a firearm while prohibited (x 2)
Operate a motor vehicle while disqualified under the Criminal Code
Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle and
Being an occupant in a motor vehicle in which there was a firearm
Aaron Christopher Watt is facing nine Criminal Code charges including:
Attempted Murder
Theft of a motor vehicle
Possession of property obtained by the commission of an offence
Possess a firearm without a license
Possess a firearm while prohibited
Operate a motor vehicle while disqualified under the Criminal Code
Being an occupant in a motor vehicle in which there was a firearm
Fail to comply with a condition of a Recognizance
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
The Ford Escape from the incident has been recovered by police but the F350 has yet to be recovered. Both L’Hirondelle and Watt are considered armed and dangerous. The public is warned not to approach them or their vehicles if spotted, but to call the police.