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Police have released photo clues to a drive-by shooting and are asking for help to find suspects in a related series of extortion crimes.
Tally on the spree so far is an estimated $9 million in property damage, and a firefighter was injured in one of the arsons.
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“Police are now investigating 27 events related to an ongoing extortion series that has affected the South Asian community in the Edmonton region since October, including 5 extortions, 15 arsons and 7 firearms offences,” said EPS communications advisor Cheryl Voordenhout,.
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A Beaumont house fire in the wee hours of Jan. 16 is believed to be the most recent crime in the series.
On Jan. 10 at approximately 1:10 a.m., police said a suspect in a vehicle fired shots into a Cy Becker residence occupied by a family with children, in northeast Edmonton.
Bullets were recovered from inside the home. The occupants of the home have no known involvement in criminal activity.
“Police have since determined this shooting is connected to the extortion series, and this is the second time the home was targeted,” Vandervoort said.
A dedicated project team continues to investigate this series and its connection to organized crime. While similar events have been reported in B.C. and Ontario, at this time, investigators do not believe these to be connected to the Edmonton series.
Anyone with information related to the suspect vehicle in the photos is asked to come forward.
Anyone who has received threats or who has information about the drive-by shooting or other events related to this crime series is asked to contact police immediately at 780-423-4567. When speaking with police dispatch, callers can reference file #23-802638. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.
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