CARSTAIRS - The owners of Silver Willow Sporting Club are commending first responders for their quick and professional reaction to a break-in and shooting at the Carstairs-area facility on Feb. 9.
At least one shot was fired at a vehicle containing one of the facility owners who had responded to the site when an on-site security alert indicated someone was in the business, say police.
Josh Day’s vehicle was struck, but luckily he was not injured.
Police later arrested an adult male and adult female, both Calgary residents, who now face dozens of charges in relation to the incident. The male’s charges include attempted murder.
“We wish to thank the Didsbury RCMP and Police Dog Services, ERT Emergency Response Team,” Josh's mother Gwen told the Albertan. “Also the local volunteers with the Carstairs Fire Department and ambulance services for their excellent work. The quick response time was really something. We felt very well supported and protected.”
“We are ever so grateful to the Lord for protecting our family and really our whole neighbourhood during last Friday's incident.
“No one was hurt. It all ended as well as could be hoped for. The criminals were apprehended and we hope justice will be served.”
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The break-in at the facility is a first-time thing, she said.
The Day family founded Silver Willow Sporting Club in 1988 as a family-owned and operated business.
“After 35 years in business this is our first major break in. The damage done at the business was very minimal. Our alarm system and security cameras worked well," she said.
“Within a couple of minutes of the alarm going off at 5 a.m. and the cameras showing two masked people in our business building, our son was at the business. This caught the thieves rather off guard,” she said.
Following the shooting, police ordered area residents to shelter in place as they searched for the suspects, who fled the scene on foot and were later arrested.
“It was rather a stress-filled, long five hours before it came to a close,” she said. “We believe that helped contain the criminals on the property until the special Emergency Response Team could arrive and convince the two in hiding to surrender peaceably.”
Kyle Nechiporenko, 37, faces charges of attempted murder, discharge of a firearm with intent, failing to comply with a probation order, possession of a firearm without holding a licence, failing to comply with weapons prohibition order, using a disguise to commit an indictable offence and driving while unauthorized.
He has been remanded in custody pending a Feb. 14 court appearance in Calgary Court of Justice.
Soleil Wenas, 20, a Calgary residents, faces a charge of possession of a firearm without holding a licence and failing to comply with release conditions.
Nechiporenko and Wenas are jointly charged with break and enter with intent to steal a firearm, weapon dangerous to the public peace (bear spray), use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence, use of an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence, theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000, and possession of break and enter instruments.
The pair are also linked, along with a third person, in break-ins and thefts at numerous Calgary-area golf clubs and the Water Valley Saloon.
Various RCMP detachments in Southern Alberta District had been investigating a spree of break and enters which occurred in January and February to golf courses and other businesses in several counties surrounding Calgary prior to announcing the charges on Monday. Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit was assigned the investigation on Jan. 30.
