Seven youths charged following attack, robbery at St. Albert McDonalds

Seven Edmonton youths will appear in provincial court this March after a St. Albert resident was struck with a baton and robbed outside a McDonald's.

The St. Albert RCMP announced Jan. 31 that they had charged seven youths with various offences in connection with an assault and robbery that happened Nov. 28, 2023.

Police responded to a call about an assault in progress outside the McDonald's at 369 St. Albert Trail in downtown St. Albert at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 28, St. Albert RCMP Cpl. Morgan Kyle said. Subsequent calls reported weapons involved and individuals running from the area.

Police located the victim, a male St. Albert youth, and arrested numerous suspects nearby. They determined the victim had been physically assaulted and struck with a baton while having a designer belt stolen from him.

“It was not a random attack,” Kyle said, adding that she was not able to disclose what triggered the attack.

The victim was transported to hospital with minor injuries and released the same day, Kyle said. Police also recovered the stolen belt.

The seven youths all live in Edmonton and cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. All seven were charged with obstruction. Four were charged with robbery, two with assault, and one with assault with a weapon. All have been released under court orders to not contact the victim and to stay away from the McDonald's involved in this incident, with some also forbidden to have weapons. The youths are set to appear in provincial court March 5, 2024.

Kyle said violent crimes involving weapons such as this one are very rare in St. Albert. Anyone who sees a violent crime in progress should call 911.