(rdnewsNOW/Rene Rondeau)

By Troy Gillard

Chase Freed

Walmart shooting suspect came to Red Deer from Prince Albert

Jan 7, 2020 | 1:12 PM

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

Several sources close to Chase Freed say he lived in the city of Prince Albert before moving to Red Deer, paNOW reports.

The 18-year-old also attended St. Mary’s High School in Prince Albert, although he did not graduate there.

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

C.J. Williams, who was 69, was shot about 60 metres away from the front entrance of the store during what was alleged to be a robbery gone wrong. Williams died in hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest.

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The suspect fled the scene 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.

Following an intense police search, the two suspects were arrested about four hours after the shooting near Rimbey.

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.

Crystal Maurice, 30, 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 on Wednesday.

(With file from Nigel Maxwell, paNOW)