Travis Baumgartner arrested trying to enter U.S. at Abbotsford, BC border crossing
Police bringing Baumgartner and his truck back to Edmonton
Travis Brandon Baumgartner, 21. Photo: Edmonton Police Service.
By Markham Hislop
U.S. border guards have caught Travis Baumgartner, who is wanted for the early Friday morning murder of three armoured car guard at the University of Alberta.
Baumgartner, 21, was arrested Saturday while attempting to cross into the United States at the Lynden, Washington U.S.-Canada border, south of Abbotsford, B.C. by U.S. border officials following an intense 36-hour manhunt initiated by the Edmonton Police Service.
Travis Baumgartner was wanted on three Canada-wide warrants for first degree murder of Michelle Shegelski, 26, Eddy Rejano, 39, and Brian Ilesic, 35. He was also wanted on a warrant for the attempted murder of the fourth guard, Matthew Schuman, who is in critical condition in University Hospital.
Supt. Bob Hassel, of the Edmonton Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Division, confirmed the arrest, noting Baumgartner was arrested while driving his dark blue Ford F-150. Police also believe the truck had two stickers on it: a Monster Drink logo on the driver’s side, and a Gears of War logo on the rear window, which includes a red blood-coloured skull.
Baumgartner’s G4S firearm and body armour were also missing and police considered him armed and extremely dangerous.
Travis Baumgartner's blue Ford F-150 pick up. Photo: Edmonton Police Service.
“We’re hearing the vehicle still had his mother’s licence plate (CAA 636) on it,” said Hassel. “We’re grateful to the border officials at Lynden, Washington, for their excellent work in arresting a man we believe was armed and extremely dangerous.”
Police officials are on their way to bring Baumgartner and the truck back to Edmonton.
News of Baumgartner’s arrest has brought some level of solace and relief to the G4S family, still in a state of shock on the heels of Friday’s shootings.
“We applaud the dedication of the Edmonton Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies in apprehending Travis Baumgartner today,” said Robin Steinberg of G4S Cash Solutions (Canada). “Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims and also with the Baumgartner family.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the Edmonton Police Service, while conducting our own detailed investigation into the incident.”
“Once again, we would like to thank our customers, employees and the community in general for their continuing support during this difficult time.”
EPS members were called out to the university’s Hub Mall area after midnight Friday after receiving a call of shots fired.
Upon arrival, police found three deceased individuals and a fourth who was transported to hospital with undetermined injuries. EPS investigators confirmed the shootings were the result of an armed robbery of an armoured vehicle making deliveries at the University of Alberta’s Hub Mall building.
Travis Baumgartner was a G4S employee who was one of the team of G4S employees that attended the U of A just after midnight Friday make a delivery. Police Baumgartner shot and killed three of his armoured guard colleagues and put a fourth guard in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Anyone with information on Baumgartner’s whereabouts is urged to contact the EPS complaint line at 780-423-4567 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477. The EPS has assigned additional employees to monitor the CrimeStoppers phone line.
Category: Alberta
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