Two men accused of killing Rocky View County worker back in court Oct. 10

The two men arrested after a deadly roadside shooting in Rocky View County last month will be tried together.

The shooting took the life of Airdrie resident Colin Hough and injured another person. Hough, an Airdrie resident, was a father of two young sons. 

A manhunt followed the shooting in search of the two suspects, which resulted in the arrest of 35-year-old Arthur Wayne Penner, and 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry.

Penner was arrested in August with the help of Edmonton police and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Strawberry was arrested over a month later in September, at a residence in O’Chiese First Nation and charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Both suspects have recent criminal records. At the time of the shooting, Penner was on bail awaiting trial for previous recent charges while Strawberry was also facing previous charges.

The Crown told court in Calgary on Sept. 26 that although the two men were charged separately they will be tried together when the case goes to trial. The case will be back Oct. 10. 

Details of the Aug. 6 shooting

Penner and Strawberry were involved in a minor collision in Calgary prior to the Aug. 6 shooting, where the stolen vehicle they were driving was partially disabled, according to police. They then drove into Rocky View County where they burnt the vehicle.

Hough and the other shooting victim saw the fire and pulled over to ask if they needed help. It was at this time both victims were shot.

Alberta RCMP stated that around noon on Aug. 6, officers from the Strathmore RCMP received a report of two men who had been shot while working along a roadway on Township Road 250 and Range Road 281 in Rocky View County. Upon arriving on scene, emergency crews discovered that Hough and a 39-year-old victim had both been shot as the two suspects stole one of the victim’s Rocky View County pick-up trucks.

Responding officers were able to locate the suspects in the Rocky View County pick up truck and engaged in a pursuit, however the suspects were successful in evading police. The truck was found  abandoned in a field in Wheatland County. 

On Aug. 8, RCMP determined that Penner was one of the suspects, who was later arrested in Edmonton. On Aug. 11, police identified Strawberry as the second suspect in this incident, followed by an investigation that led to his arrest on Sept. 13.

Rocky View County (RVC) confirmed that Colin Hough was one of their employees. On Aug. 8, RVC announced they would support Hough's family during this difficult time by matching donations made to the GoFundMe page created in his honour: Fundraiser in Memory of Colin Hough.

FortisAlberta confirmed that one of its employees was the other shooting victim. According to Fortis, their employee was treated for their injury and was released from the hospital the following evening.