By Sheldon Spackman

March 2023 Incident

Man sentenced in Ponoka shooting

Apr 30, 2025 | 2:19 PM

It’s three-and-a-half years in jail for a central Alberta man charged in a Ponoka shooting two years ago.

Journey Okeynan, 22, a resident of Montana First Nation, was sentenced in Wetaskiwin Court of King’s Bench on April 7, 2025. He was also given a 10-year firearms prohibition after being convicted on one count of intentionally discharging a firearm. Five other charges were withdrawn.

Okeynan was the last of five individuals originally charged in the incident to have their matters dealt with.

Previously, a 90-day jail term was handed to Tracy Lightfoot, 49, of Ponoka, who was sentenced on Jan. 22, 2024. She received 12 months of probation and was given a one-year license suspension in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice after being convicted on one count of flight from a peace officer.

Meantime, co-accused, Cree Lightfoot, 23, a resident of Red Pheasant First Nation, and Leanne Doris Standingontheroad, 50, a resident of Montana First Nation, had their charges withdrawn following a trial in Ponoka Court of Justice on Nov. 15, 2023.

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While a fifth individual initially charged, Jacqueline Claudette Johnson-Dieter, 50, a resident of Samson First Nation, had her charges withdrawn on May 26, 2023.

It was about 3:20 p.m. on March 4, 2023, when RCMP received a report of a shooting on 53 Street in Ponoka.

The victim told RCMP that persons in a GMC pickup truck shot at him several times. Fortunately, the victim was uninjured.

Officers quickly located the suspect vehicle, but it fled. Officers then pursued the vehicle onto Montana First Nation where it pulled up to a residence and all five occupants were arrested.

RCMP searched the vehicle and claim to have located the following:

• A sawed off .22 caliber rifle
• Spent shell casings
• Small amounts of suspected cocaine, suspected methamphetamine, pills,
• A baton/taser

Journey Okeynan, was charged with:

• Discharge a firearm with intent
• Assault with a weapon
• Possession of prohibited weapon
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Firearms offences (x5)
• Fail to comply with a probation order(x2)
• Flight from police
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Possession of firearm with a tampered serial number
• Disguise with intent

Jacqueline Claudette Johnson-Dieter, Cree Lightfoot, Tracy Lightfoot, and Leanne Doris Standingontheroad were originally charged with:

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Flight from police
• Firearm offences (X4)

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