Red Deer RCMP have one woman in custody and have recovered a stolen truck after an armed robbery at a convenience store shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday morning.
RCMP responded to a 911 call at 9:15 a.m. at the Mac’s convenience store on Jewell Street after a woman entered the store brandishing a firearm and demanding cash and cigarettes.
The suspect assaulted a staff person and ran from the store, throwing the firearm into a waiting truck driven by a second female suspect, who fled the scene without the first suspect.
The staff person detained the first suspect until police arrived; he suffered minor cuts and bruises during the altercation. RCMP took the woman into custody and located the suspect truck abandoned nearby with a rifle inside. The truck had been reported stolen out of Rocky Mountain House.
One witness reported that they may have heard a child in the truck though no child was seen; at this point in the investigation, RCMP have not been able to confirm whether or not a child was involved, and continue to actively investigate.
A 30-year-old woman will face a number of charges including armed robbery.
RCMP will release an update with those charges and the suspect’s name once those charges have been sworn before the courts, and will release further updates as more information comes available.
Meanwhile, Red Deer RCMP are also looking for four or five suspects in a stolen Buick Lucerne after they robbed a man at gunpoint in a convenience store parking lot this afternoon.
At 1:15 p.m. RCMP responded to report of an armed robbery after a man was robbed at gunpoint in a parking lot in the area of 50th Ave. and 71st St.
A man wearing a face covering and brandishing a firearm approached the victim as he sat in his car, and demanded cash; when the victim refused, the suspect assaulted him and stole his cell phone.
The suspect then got into a silver 2006 Buick Lucerne that held up to four more suspects, both male and female. When RCMP arrived, the suspect car fled at a high speed. RCMP followed the suspects briefly and then terminated due to concern for public safety.
The Buick Lucerne had been reported stolen out of Lacombe County on July 2nd and has the Alberta license plate ZRE 135. The male victim suffered minor cuts to his face as a result of the assault.
At this point in the investigation, RCMP do not believe this robbery is connected to the armed robbery earlier Thursday at the convenience store.
RCMP continue to investigate and will release further updates as more information comes available.
If you have information about this investigation, contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.
If your information leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000.
