2 charged in gun-trafficking investigation, 2020 shooting: EPS
Two men have been charged with multiple firearms-related offences in connection to a straw-buying operation dating back to 2019.
Straw buying is where one person buys a good or service for someone else who can’t or doesn’t want to themselves.
In February of 2021, Edmonton police were called to a weapons complaint in the area of 125 Street and 132 Avenue. Officers arrested Caleb Lauer, 25, who they say was in possession of a handgun with a defaced serial number.
Lauer was charged with nine offences, including possession of a loaded restricted firearm.
During the investigation, the EPS Firearms Investigation Unit discovered the firearm was used in a shooting in the Castledowns area on Dec. 6, 2020. No injuries were reported in that incident.
On Aug. 25, 2021, Brett Shepherd, the registered owner of the handgun, was arrested, police said. He had a valid firearms license and three other restricted firearms were registered at his residence. Police said the guns were missing when officers searched his home.
“The investigation revealed that Shepherd allegedly purchased the four handguns over a two-month period, with the intention of trafficking those firearms as a straw purchaser,” said EPS in a news release.
“The firearms were allegedly trafficked to Lauer over a period of time between December 2019 and January 2020.”
Shepherd has been charged with nine offences, including firearms trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and unauthorized possession.
On Sept. 9, 2021, Lauer was arrested again in relation to numerous offenses, including the December 2020 shooting.
He has been charged with 11 offences, including discharging a firearm with the intent to endanger life, firearms trafficking, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Stormy Daniels is expected to appear at Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday
Donald Trump returns to the hush money trial Tuesday facing a threat of jail time for additional gag order violations as prosecutors gear up to summon big-name witnesses including porn actor Stormy Daniels.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.