Following an intense search and multiple pleas for information, on Sept.. 13, just after 1 p.m., members of the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit successfully and safely arrested 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry at a residence on O’Chiese First Nation.
With this arrest, the Alberta RCMP are confident that both suspects involved in the Aug. 6, 2024, homicide of Colin John Hough and the attempted murder of another individual are in custody.
“We received tips and information from the public over the course of the last few weeks and the arrest of Elijah Strawberry serves as a reminder of the value of public assistance in maintaining public safety, “ says Chief Superintendent Roberta McKale, “The Alberta RCMP had a significant co-ordinated effort with many different units engaged from across the Province offering thousands of work hours to locate and arrest Elijah Strawberry. I would like to thank our dedicated officers from the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit as well as all other support Units who worked tirelessly to this point and will continue to work on this investigation now that Elijah Strawberry is in custody. I would also like to thank our partners from Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge Police Services, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams, and the provincial Sheriffs who all assisted in our efforts to locate this offender.”
Despite the arrests of Arthur Penner and Elijah Strawberry, the investigation into this matter continues, reports RCMP. The RCMP asks anyone with information about these crimes to come forward.
The Aug. 6 shooting
According to the police investigation, Penner and Strawberry were involved in a minor collision in Calgary prior to the shooting, where the stolen vehicle they were driving was partially disabled. They then drove into Rocky View County where they burnt the vehicle.
Hough and the other shooting victim saw the fire and pulled over to ask if they needed help. It was at this time both victims were shot.
Alberta RCMP stated that around noon on Aug. 6, officers from the Strathmore RCMP received a report of two men who had been shot while working along a roadway on Township Road 250 and Range Road 281 in Rocky View County. Upon arriving on scene, emergency crews discovered that Hough and a 39-year-old victim had both been shot as the two suspects stole one of the victim’s Rocky View County pick-up trucks.
Responding officers were able to locate the suspects in the Rocky View County pick up truck and engaged in a pursuit, however the suspects were successful in evading police.
Using the Rocky View County pick-up truck on-board GPS, police were able to locate the truck abandoned in a field in the area of Range Road 252 and Township Road 260. A Police-Initiated Public Alert was released advising residents in the area to shelter in place.
RCMP conducted a thorough search, after which the shelter in place alert was lifted.
On Aug. 8, RCMP determined that Penner was one of the suspects, who was later arrested in Edmonton.
On Aug. 11, police identified Strawberry as the second suspect in this incident, followed by an investigation that led to his arrest on Sept. 13.
Rocky View County confirmed that Colin Hough was one of their employees. On Aug. 8, RVC announced they would support Hough's family during this difficult time by matching donations made to the GoFundMe page created in his honour: Fundraiser in Memory of Colin Hough.
FortisAlberta confirmed that one of its employees was the other shooting victim. According to Fortis, their employee was treated for their injury and was released from the hospital the following evening.