A tense 24-hour period in northern Alberta saw two separate shooting incidents, a police pursuit involving airborne fireworks, and a shelter-in-place order, culminating in multiple arrests and a province-wide warrant for a suspect still at large.
The first incident unfolded on March 31, 2026, at approximately 3:54 p.m., when High Prairie RCMP responded to a shooting just outside the town’s courthouse. Officers arrived to find a victim suffering from serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The individual was rushed to hospital by EMS as police cordoned off the scene. Investigators have since identified possible suspects, though no arrests have been made in connection with the courthouse shooting.
Just hours later, at 9:02 p.m., Mounties were called to a residence in Atikameg, a hamlet about 70 kilometres northeast of High Prairie, for a report of an attempted murder. Police say a dispute broke out at the home, during which one suspect fired a gun at another person. The bullet missed its target. The shooter then fled in a pickup truck with three other individuals.
RCMP quickly located the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, speeding north on Highway 750. The Alberta RCMP’s Real Time Operations Centre (RTOC) was brought in, and a pursuit was authorized. During the chase, investigators say, occupants of the truck hurled objects—including fireworks—at pursuing police vehicles.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop, and four people bolted from the truck on foot. No firearms were found inside the abandoned vehicle. In response, police issued a shelter-in-place order for the Atikameg area while the Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team and Police Dog Services swept the community.
The search led to the arrest of two women and one man.
Charges have now been laid against three individuals in connection with the Atikameg shooting and flight. Lita Destiny Christian, 31, of Cadotte Lake; Paval Kozlov Laboucan, 24, of Atikameg; and Hannah Lacey Cardinal, 30, also of Atikameg, are each facing multiple firearms-related offences, including possession of a prohibited weapon, pointing a firearm, discharging a firearm, and careless use of a firearm.
A warrant has also been issued for Deshawn Laboucan, 20, of Little Buffalo, who remains at large. Police allege he was the fourth person who fled from the pickup that night. In addition to the firearm charges facing the others, Deshawn Laboucan is also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, attempted murder with a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle.
Further complicating the case, Paval Laboucan was also arrested on unrelated charges stemming from a previous firearm-related incident in Peace River.
All three arrested individuals have been remanded into custody after appearing before a justice of the peace. They are scheduled to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in High Prairie on April 7, 2026.
Police continue to search for Deshawn Laboucan and are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts—or details regarding either shooting incident—to contact High Prairie RCMP at 780-523-3378. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.P3Tips.com.
