By Sheldon Spackman

Fatal Fight

Life sentence for man convicted in central Alberta homicide

Jan 15, 2022 | 11:45 AM

A man convicted in a fatal fight on the Sunchild First Nation three years ago has been sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility of parole for 17 years.

Evan Ernest Foureyes, 32, was sentenced in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Jan. 14, after a jury previously found him guilty of second-degree murder, and kidnapping with a firearm, following a 14-day trial in Red Deer in October. He was also given a four-year concurrent sentence for his kidnapping with a firearm conviction.

The jury found Foureyes not guilty, however, on one charge of assault with a weapon following his trial last fall.

Foureyes was convicted on counts relating to a series of incidents on Nov. 9, 2018 that claimed the life of 23-year-old Arley Creed Lagrelle, a young father of one who died from a single stab wound to the heart during the altercation.

The incident began just before 9 p.m. that day when Rocky Mountain House RCMP responded to a report of a fight outside a gas station on the Sunchild First Nation. One man was seriously injured and taken to hospital where he later died, while two other people suffered non-life threatening injuries.

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Mounties say the suspects involved fled the gas station in a vehicle. However, neighbouring detachments were made aware of the incident and the suspect vehicle was later located in the Drayton Valley area where officers attempted a traffic stop.

After a spike belt was deployed, police say the vehicle was disabled and came to a stop before the suspects fled on foot. Three individuals were later arrested by Drayton Valley RCMP, but were not deemed connected to the homicide. They were, however, deemed connected to the suspect vehicle.

Mounties alleged an occupant of the suspect vehicle later carjacked a truck driver at gunpoint who drove the suspect to the O’Chiese First Nation where the suspect went inside a residence. The truck driver was not injured.

Two suspects were identified in relation to the homicide, one of whom was felt to be responsible for the carjacking. One suspect was arrested at the residence on the O’Chiese First Nation following a standoff involving the RCMP Emergency Response Team. The second suspect was arrested by Rocky Mountain House RCMP during a traffic stop.

The RCMP Major Crimes Unit laid charges in the death of Arley Lagrelle, as well as in the assaults on other victims and the carjacking of the truck driver. Charges against one of the accused were later withdrawn.

Prior to sentencing on Friday, Justice Nick Devlin referred to Foureyes’ Gladue report, which outlined an upbringing exposed to drugs, alcohol, violence and abuse.

Devlin told court that Arley Lagrelle, however, deserved to live a full and happy life and that his death was a tragedy. He further noted that Foureyes will only be paroled if and when correctional authorities decide it’s safe to do so.

Devlin also noted it was the second time in less than a decade that Foureyes was involved in another man’s death, having previously been convicted of manslaughter in 2011.

When given a chance to speak, Foureyes addressed the court by apologizing to his victim’s family, who once took him in during his youth.

“I’m sorry for your guys’ loss. I grew up with this guy, I grew up with you guys, I’m sorry for that,” said Foureyes.