(Dreamstime)

By Sheldon Spackman

March 2023 Incident

Man charged in alleged Ponoka shooting ordered to stand trial

Dec 11, 2023 | 4:24 PM

One of five people initially charged in an alleged shooting in Ponoka this year has been ordered to stand trial.

Journey Okeynan, 20, a resident of Montana First Nation, was ordered to stand trial in Ponoka Court of Justice on Dec. 8, 2023, during his preliminary hearing, and was also denied bail.

His next court appearance, however, has yet to be set.

Meantime, co-accused, Tracy Lightfoot, 48, a resident of Ponoka, is scheduled for sentencing in Wetaskiwin Court of Justice on Jan. 15, 2024.

She and two other suspects were charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, and four additional firearm offences following the incident.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

16h ago

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

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

Cree Lightfoot, 21, a resident of Red Pheasant First Nation, and Leanne Doris Standingontheroad, 49, a resident of Montana First Nation, had their charges withdrawn following a trial in Ponoka Court of Justice on Nov. 15, 2023.

A fourth person initially charged, Jacqueline Claudette Johnson-Dieter, 49, a resident of Samson First Nation, had her charges withdrawn on May 26, 2023.

The fifth suspect charged, 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

Related: Suspect charged in alleged Ponoka shooting scheduled for sentencing next year

Related: Preliminary hearing scheduled in alleged Ponoka shooting

Related: Trial date set in alleged Ponoka shooting

Related: Five charged after alleged shooting in Ponoka

—

Download the rdnewsNOW mobile app on Google Play and the Apple App Store for all the latest updates on this and other stories.