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A 20-year-old man is facing a raft of charges after a city police gang unit officer witnessed the driver of a vehicle open fire on a string of residential homes in southeast Edmonton.
Officers with the city police gang suppression team were in the Laurel neighbourhood around 10:54 p.m. last Thursday when one of them observed a white SUV roll slowly by a residence near Mabuhay Park before a gunman inside the vehicle opened fire on homes in the area, some of them occupied by families with children, police said in a news release.
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The officer immediately activated the police vehicle emergency lights as the SUV took off, speeding through the neighbourhood. The Air 1 police helicopter, tactical unit and other resources were called in.
The SUV eventually stopped near 30 Street and 15 Avenue as the officer approached. A male armed with a gun stepped out of the passenger side, pointing the weapon at the officer inside the police vehicle. The SUV driver then sped off while the gunman fled on foot, only to be arrested moments later with the help of the Air 1 chopper and tactical police.
A handgun was found nearby, its serial number defaced.
Police are still searching for the driver of the SUV.
No one was injured as a result of the shooting.
“We believe this was a targeted event and it was certainly a close call for our officer and for residents in the community,” Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart, with the police guns and gangs unit, said in the release.
“Shootings like this remain a significant public safety concern that we are working diligently to address, and we are thankful that there were no injuries or loss of life that evening.”
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The city police southwest investigative response team (IRT) is asking anyone with information about the SUV or its occupants to reach out.
The vehicle is described as a newer model white Mitsubishi SUV and is pictured in a police supplied video clip.
Officers are also asking anyone in the Laurel area who may have security or dash cam footage of the vehicle or shooting from the evening of Oct. 19 to contact police.
Anyone with information or video footage related to the vehicle or shooting are asked to contact police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.
Parminder Singh has been charged with pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, recklessly discharging a firearm, tampering with a serial number, mischief, and failure to comply with an order.
The accused has since been released with several conditions, including to not possess any firearms.
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