(Oasisamuel | Dreamstime.com)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

had been on the run since august 6

Rocky View County murder suspect arrested on O’Chiese First Nation

Sep 13, 2024 | 9:58 PM

A man wanted in connection to a murder and attempted murder in Rocky View County, Alberta on Aug. 6 has finally been arrested, and it happened Friday the 13th at a home on O’Chiese First Nation.

RCMP issued an update Friday evening stating that just after 1 p.m., members of Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit successfully arrested 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry.

Strawberry and his co-accused Arthur Penner, who was arrested shortly after the incident, are alleged to have been involved in the murder of Colin John Hough and attempted murder of another individual.

“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,” Chief Superintendent Roberta McKale said in a media availability Friday.

“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.”

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Between Sept. 2-5, police efforts to find Strawberry were focused on Red Deer, particularly the areas of Highland Green and Normandeau.

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READ MORE: RCMP confirm recent operations in Red Deer connected to search for Elijah Blake Strawberry

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RCMP add that despite the arrests of Arthur Penner and Elijah Strawberry, the investigation into this matter continues. The RCMP asks anyone with information about these crimes to come forward.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” McKale added. “Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the Major Crimes Unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence.”

On Aug. 6, RCMP stated that it was just before noon when police responded to a shooting at Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, in Rocky View County.

There, it was discovered that two people had been shot, one fatally and the other superficially.

Suspects were believed to have fled the scene in a stolen truck, which was found abandoned at Range Road 260 and Township Road 252, in Wheatland County.

A shelter in place was issued that afternoon.

Arthur Penner, 35, was then arrested on Aug. 11, and the search continued for Strawberry.

RCMP eventually issued a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, with a $2,000 reward available for information submitted through Crime Stoppers.

RCMP also maintained throughout the investigation that they believed Strawberry had remained in Alberta.

RCMP added on Saturday that Strawberry has been formally charged with second-degree murder and been brought before a Justice of the Peace. His next court appearance is Sept. 16 in Edmonton.

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