On Sunday, December 5 2021 at approximately 3:00 a.m., Maskwacis RCMP were dispatched to a rural residence on the Samson Cree Nation after receiving information that a male had been shot. Upon arrival, police located the male suffering from a severe gun shot wound. The male was treated on scene by EMS and then transported to area hospital with life threatening injuries. Witnesses identified two suspects who fled the scene prior to police arriving. 

Members of the Maskwacis General Investigation Section (GIS) took carriage of the investigation and identified two suspects. Over the next seventy-two hours, Maskwacis GIS along with members of the Wetaskiwin RCMP, Wetaskiwin Police Dog Services (PDS), Red Deer Forensic Identification Services (FIS) would locate and arrest the two suspects.

William Littlechild, a 22-year-old male from the Ermineskin Cree Nation and Zachary Potts, a 27-year-old male from Wetaskiwin, Alberta were charged with the following criminal code offences:

·         Attempted murder with a firearm

·         Break and Enter

·         Uttering Threats 

·         Assault 

Littlechild was also charged with the following criminal code offences:

·         Unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowing possession is unauthorized 

·         Fail to comply with a release order (X3)

Littlechild was also arrested on outstanding warrants out of Maskwacis and the Wetaskiwin RCMP for various weapons offences. Potts also faces an additional count of unauthorized possession of a firearm. 

“This is a great example of an excellent initial response by police, and a big thank you to the Wetaskiwin RCMP for assisting us in locating and apprehending the two suspects quickly.”, says Cst. Andrew Deme of the Maskwacis RCMP. “The first twenty-four hours after a serious offence has taken place are crucial in trying to figure out exactly what happened. Our members are often asked at times to drop what they’re doing to come together as one, with the goal of making the communities we serve better and safer.”

Littlechild and Potts were held for judicial interim release hearings. Potts was released from custody by a Justice of the Peace, and is scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on Thursday, January 13 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Littlechild was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear as well in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on Thursday, December 9 2021 at 8:30 a.m.