A 38-year-old Edmonton man who was killed in a gang-related shooting in 91原创 on Saturday, Sept. 21, had a criminal record that included firearms and drug trafficking convictions, court documents show.
Johnathan Hebrada-Walters was identified as the dead man by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in a Monday update of their investigation into the shootings near 196 Street and 84 Avenue, an incident that wounded another man who suffered what police called "non-life-threatening" injuries.
Hebrada-Walters and the second, unnamed man, were both described as "known to police" by IHIT.
Court records show Hebrada-Walters was sentenced to two years less a day in 2010 by a Saskatchewan court for possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and sentenced to six years on multiple weapons offences in 2018 by a Manitoba judge.
Both decisions were upheld on appeal.
In the drug case, the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan agreed with a lower court ruling that found, while Hebrada-Walters had been unlawfully detained before he was advised of his rights, it was for 15 minutes, a "technical violation" that wasn't enough to exclude evidence and overturn the conviction.
The precedent set by the Saskatchewan decision has been cited in multiple court cases since.
In the Manitoba firearms case, Hebrada-Walters was convicted of possessing a .45 calibre Glock handgun with the serial number removed.
He was also found guilty of violating a firearms ban, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
91原创 RCMP remained at the scene of a fatal gang-related shooting near 196 St. and 84 Ave. Sunday morning. One person died and another was wounded Saturday. Homicide investigators have taken charge of the investigation.
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Investigators have yet to say how Hebrada-Walters and the second man wounded in the shootings were connected. Police are not naming the second man.
鈥淭his investigation continues to unfold,鈥� said IHIT Staff Sgt. David Lee.
鈥淲e are in contact with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC) as well as policing partners in Alberta to determine how these victims are linked to one another," Lee said.
Forensic examinations at both scenes have been completed and investigators were going door-to-door to canvass for witnesses.
Police are asking anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage in two areas: 196 Street and 84 Avenue, as well as 208 Street and 78 Avenue, taken between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 21, to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
