UPDATE: On November 7th, 2019, Kiyawasew was sentenced to 90 days in jail for unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless storage of a firearm but was released for time served. He was also given a 10-year firearms ban. All of the other charges against him were withdrawn.
RCMP in Valleyview has arrested four people believed to have been involved in a shooting last month. It’s alleged that two groups of people shot at each other on the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation on August 9th.
Police said they didn’t hear about the exchange until August 14th. While there were no injuries, a vehicle and a house were hit by bullets. It wasn’t believed to have been a random shooting.
Arrest warrants were issued for all five people RCMP thought were involved, and four were taken into custody by the Western Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Team on September 4th. The roundup also led to the seizure of several loaded guns, brass knuckles, and meth.
“By focusing on volume crimes perpetrated by a small number of repeat offenders, RCMP will reduce the instances of crime over the long term,” says Staff Sergeant Brent Meyer, Detachment Commander of the Valleyview RCMP. “Collaboration with enforcement partners will continue to yield positive results for the community. Getting these firearms and drugs off the streets of our community will help keep our residents safe.”
30-year-old Winona Kristen Lynn Gouchey of Valleyview is facing nine weapons and firearms related charges. Police say she had a loaded long barrel rifle in her vehicle and brass knuckles and a loaded magazine on her when she was arrested.
29-year-old Lawrence Edward Tyson Kiyawasew of Valleyview was pulled over by police later that day, and a gun was found between the console and driver’s seat. In total, a rifle, shotgun, and SKS rifle were found in the vehicle, all fully loaded. Kiyawasew is facing 18 firearms charges, along with 19-year-old Tess Courtoreille. Courtoreille has no fixed address and is not a suspect in the shooting.
Two more men were pulled over later on, and police say the meth and a .22 calibre rifle were found in their vehicle’s backseat. 20-year-old Dorian Harvey of Valleyview and 26-year-old Damien Allan James Kappo of Grande Prairie have been charged with possession of meth and unlawful possession of a firearm.
There’s no word on the status of the fifth shooting suspect.
