By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

UPDATED: Source tells LNN large Fort Macleod RCMP presence may relate to group rivalry and the drug trade

Feb 28, 2019 | 1:07 PM

LETHBRIDGE –  UPDATE 8:35 P.M.: RCMP have released a statement, indicating that with the assistance of the RCMP Serious Crimes Branch and the Forensic Identification Section, they are continuing to investigate what occurred at a residence in Fort Macleod Wednesday, Feb. 27. 

RCMP will now confirm that a firearm was involved, and that several males were also involved in the incident. However, police have not yet determined all of their identities. Police also confirm that they believe this was not a random act, and that all of the parties involved were known to one another. They have also confirmed that a search warrant was executed on a local residence. 

A source close to the investigation in Fort Macleod involving Wednesday’s large police presence, believes that a man who suffered non-life-threatening injuries may have been targeted in relation to the drug trade, and rival gangs/groups from the Calgary area. 

The source, who will not be named to protect their identity, spoke at length about what they believe may have happened at a trailer home in the 300 Bl. of 11 St. in the early morning hours and throughout the day on Wed. Feb. 27.

Lethbridge News NOW reached out to Alberta’s Provincial RCMP Media relations for any information relating to the source’s claims, but were told “no comment.”

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The person tells LNN a trailer in Fort Macleod was recently rented to a woman who then moved in and may have set up a meeting with the man who was found injured at 12:20 a.m.

“I got a text at about 1:40 in the morning… and I guess what happened was this guy – it sounds like it’s a feud between groups that started up in Calgary and it’s trickling down to southern Alberta. And yeah, this guy showed up at the trailer to visit this woman and it turned out there were four or six people there…. and they (RCMP) are looking for them now.”

The source says the man may have been in the trailer for some time and was subsequently shot at least once. Constable Mike Hibbs with Alberta RCMP media relations confirmed Wednesday, that a man was found with non-life-threatening injuries and taken to local hospital. He did not confirm the nature of the injuries.

The source tells LNN police may have believed that members of the group were still inside the trailer home, or nearby, eliciting a large response from several detachments, including the RCMP Emergency Response Team.

“It’s a notorious drug area,” the person said.

The source also says the home sustained significant damage, including smashed front windows and doors, and personal effects strewn about at the front of the building. It’s not clear whether the home’s interior was also damaged. A short video was provided to LNN showing the damaged trailer with an armoured vehicle parked at the front of the building.

RCMP personnel from Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Claresholm, Nanton and Pikanii Detachments were all on scene. Social media pictures from the incident also show a drone being used by RCMP, along with several marked RCMP vehicles.

Lethbridge News Now will update the information from RCMP as it becomes available.