Teen dies in shooting at Hobbema reserve

Tag : two for one

A teenage boy has died in one of two shootings at an aboriginalreserve south of Edmonton over the weekend, days after leaders puta gun amnesty into place to try to quell violence.
RCMP said they received a call early Sunday about the firstshooting at one of the four Samson Cree First Nation reserves inthe community of Hobbema. The teen, 16, was pronounced dead at thescene.
Shortly after, police received word of a second incident in which aman was injured in a shootout between the occupants of two homes.
Investigators said the shootings were gang-related and may belinked.
"We believe that there is a connection between the two incidents,"RCMP Cpl. Darrel Bruno said late Sunday.
Two men have been detained for questioning, police said.
As many as 13 different gangs are believed to operate on the fourSamson Cree reserves in Hobbema.
The area came under the national spotlight this spring when a23-month-old girl was hit by a stray bullet while eating supperwith her family inside their house.
The shooting of Asia Saddleback triggered an outcry from residents.In response, RCMP also sent extra officers to its Hobbemadetachment.
RCMP Cpl. Bruno said the latest violence is disappointing, givenrecent efforts by police and community members.
"I've contacted some of the local residents ⬦ they kind of feelit's a bit of a setback, but they're going to continue on with anumber of different issues they've been dealing with to curtailthis type of activity," Bruno said.
Last week, leaders from the four reserves announced a gun amnestyto try to reduce violence. As part of the initiative, communitymembers were asked to hand in illegal or unwanted guns, ammunitionand knives between Aug. 1 and Nov. 30.