EPS detectives fly to Langley BC to interview Travis Baumgartner
Baumgartner expected to return to Edmonton next week
A team of eight Edmonton Police homicide detectives have travelled to Langley BC as part of the investigation into the shooting deaths of three people at the University of Edmonton Hub Mall on Friday, June 15.
Superintendent Bob Hassel of the EPS Criminal Investigation Division says “We have a team of eight EPS investigators that flew into B.C. last night, who are busy sifting through evidence, including the suspect’s vehicle, as we speak”.
It is expected that Travis Baumgartner will be accompanied back to Edmonton sometime in the coming week.
Travis Baumgartner, who was wanted on Canada-wide warrants on three counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted murder and four counts of armed robbery, was arrested on Saturday, June 16 by US Customs and Border Protection officials while attempting to cross into the United States at Lynden, Washington. The international crossing is south of Aldergrove, BC.
“The accused was still driving the blue Ford F-150 truck, which had the licence plate CAA 636 from his mother’s vehicle on it,” said Hassel. “They had him in custody just after 4 p.m. and we were notified by 5 p.m., that they had our suspect with a large quantity of money in his truck – around $330,000″.
“Mr. Baumgartner was arrested peacefully and without incident, the best outcome we could have possibly hoped for. The accused was arrested and in custody in just under 48 hours, from the time we notified border officials and policing agencies across North America early Friday morning until late Saturday afternoon. We’re grateful to the RCMP, the border officials at Lynden, Washington and all of our policing partners who helped bring this dangerous suspect into custody in such an expeditious manner.”
Hassel added, “EPS’s thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families of this terrible tragedy, and to the family of the lone survivor, Matthew Schuman, who remains in critical condition in hospital. We have been in contact with all of the families involved, including Sandy Baumgartner, Travis’s mother, and all are relieved the suspect is now in custody.”
Category: Canada