The Campus Was Quiet Until It Was Not

In the northwest corner of Edmonton, where the Yellowhead Trail carries its steady current of traffic and the Alberta Pipe Trades College sits quietly beside a union hall, a Friday morning began like any other. Students arrived for classes. Instructors prepared for the day. Then, at approximately 8:20 a.m., the ordinary rhythm of a trades school was broken by the sound of gunfire.

Edmonton police responded to reports of a shooting in the parking lot shared by the Alberta Pipe Trades College and Plumbers and Pipefitters UA Local Union No. 488, near 161 Street and 118 Avenue. Officers found a man suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later .

Witnesses described a grey sedan with tinted windows pulling into the parking lot. A person emerged and opened fire. “I was inside, all we heard were the gunshots,” said a student named Lisa. “I thought it was some banging on the roof until some students came in” . Another student recalled hearing what he initially thought were fireworks before realizing the truth. “I hear probably 15 to 20 gunshots,” he said. “Looked behind me, didn’t see anything, and I just sprinted probably like 50 metres around the corner into the school” .

The buildings were placed on lockdown as police arrived within minutes. A white truck remained in the parking lot with its doors open, surrounded by pylons. What appeared to be a body covered by a tarp lay nearby . The Edmonton Police Service homicide section has taken over the investigation .

A second police scene emerged about 37 kilometers away in Parkland County, near where the Yellowhead and Highway 16A converge west of Stony Plain. Parkland RCMP said there was a heavy officer presence due to a police operation on Highway 16 at Range Road 20 . Edmonton police confirmed they are working with Mounties to determine whether the events in the county are related to the fatal shooting in the city .

The union that shares the building with the school released a statement Friday morning. “This morning at approximately 8:20 a.m. a shooting occurred in the parking lot at Local 488,” said Rod McKay of United Association Local 488. “Police responded and are currently investigating the incident. As a precaution, our buildings remain under lockdown until further notice” .

Police are asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV footage to contact Edmonton Police Service or Crime Stoppers.

AI Image Disclaimer: The accompanying visual is AI-generated and does not depict the actual scene or individuals involved.

Sources: The Canadian Press, Global News, CTV News, Yahoo News Canada