(rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Nigel Maxwell

Fatal shooting

Walmart shooting suspect has Prince Albert connection

Jan 6, 2020 | 1:44 PM

The man accused of last month’s fatal shooting in the Red Deer Walmart’s parking lot has a Prince Albert connection.

Chase Freed, 18, recently made his first court appearance and several sources close to him say he lived in the Gateway to the North before moving to Red Deer. Freed also attended St. Mary High School although he did not graduate there.

He faces several charges in connection to the Dec. 20 incident including second-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, failure to stop for a police officer and theft of a vehicle.

According to information from police at the time, a 69-year-old man was shot about 60 metres away from the front entrance of the store. The incident is alleged to be a robbery gone wrong, and the suspect then fled in a stolen black SUV driven by a woman.

As the vehicle was driving away, police say a male passenger shot at two other persons in the parking lot but the bullets did not hit anyone. The male continued to shoot randomly while departing the parking lot, police said.

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Officers stopped the vehicle with spike belts.

Crystal Maurice, faces charges that include accessory after the fact to murder, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and theft of a vehicle. She has been scheduled to appear in court later this week.

Freed appeared Monday in Red Deer provincial court via CCTV from the Edmonton Remand Centre where he remains in custody. Freed is currently in the process of applying for legal aid and has yet to secure a lawyer. His next scheduled court appearance is Feb. 18.

—with files from The Canadian Press and rdnewsNOW

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell