3 dead after University of Alberta armoured car robbery early Friday morning
Unconfirmed reports that police are searching for a lone suspect
Crime scene at University of Edmonton HUB Mall. Photo: Jonathan Fang.
By Markham Hislop
Three people are dead and another is injured in an early morning shooting on the University of Alberta campus. Early reports are that all four are employed by G4S Security and were victims of an armoured car robbery.
The Edmonton Police Service has confirmed it Tactical and Canine Units were called out to the university’s HUB Mall area after midnight after receiving a call of shots fired. The HUB Mall on 112 Street is several blocks long. A notice on the University’s web site said the HUB Mall is closed by police until 7 p.m. Friday.
The deceased victims included two men and one woman. Identities are not be released pending notification of next of kin.
The fourth victim, a man, is in critical condition, according to the Edmonton Journal.
Carl Amrhein, acting president and provost of the University of Alberta, posted the following notice on the university’s web site at 6:40 a.m.:
I deeply regret to inform you that there was a robbery on campus in and around HUB last night that resulted in the loss of lives. It does not appear at this time that any of the victims of this tragic incident are university staff or students.
The university is saddened by this loss of life and we extend our condolences to their loved ones. Counselling and support services are available at Lister Hall for those students affected by this tragedy. HPaWS counsellors are available for staff. We will do all we can to help our community deal with this terrible episode.
Edmonton police have closed down UofA Hub Mall. Photo: Wei-Hao Wei
According to Amrhein, students will allowed out of the residential portion of HUB, but will not be allowed back in. They will be accommodated at Lister Hall. Counselling will be available to HUB residents, he said.
Students traumatized by the shooting who feel they cannot take exams scheduled for Friday can defer the exams according to university procedures.
“We will do everything we can to help our community deal with this terrible event,” he wrote.
Students at the university heard bangs last night they believe were gunshots.
“I heard pop, pop, pop, about eight of them,” Ravedh Seeberath, who was studying in the HUB Mall at the time, told Global TV Edmonton, “I saw about 30 tactical guys rushing towards me with a dog.”
Further news will be posted as it becomes available.
Category: Alberta
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