A 23-year-old woman is dead after an early Monday morning shooting on the Samson Cree Nation in Hobbema.
It's believed her killing may have been the result of local gang activity in the area. The shooting happened just before 3 a.m.
"Upon arrival, we found a 23-year-old woman in the back suffering numerous gunshot wounds to her face and upper body," said Cst. Perry Cardinal with the RCMP.
Community members have identified the victim as Chelsea Yellowbird. CTV News is told Yellowbird is the aunt of five-year-old Ethan Yellowbird, who was killed in July in a drive-by shooting. The young child was shot in the head while asleep in his bed.
No one has been charged in his death yet.
Both the homes where these fatal shootings took place are right next door to one another. A memorial remains erect on a fence outside the home where the boy died.
Police have not linked the two homicides but people in the community have.
"With the boy getting shot, that was just the beginning of something like this to happen," said Roger Baptiste. "It was just a matter of time."
Neighbours, who asked to remain anonymous, say the violence is the result of a battle between two rival gangs in the vicinity of the area where the shootings took place.
Residents tell CTV News people here are frustrated with what's happening but not surprised another person has been killed.
"Every weekend something like this happens," said Eijah Johnson. "You hear gunshots every second, third night."
RCMP are now looking for suspects in the shooting. A gang link has not been confirmed by police, but neighbours say they expect pay back in the form of another shooting.
Several residents say they're concerned for their safety. They say shootings are becoming more and more common. They say they want the violence to stop but that they are too afraid to speak out about the issue.
Police say they desperately need people to come forward with information in both shooting incidents.
With files from CTV's Sean Amato…
