Man sentenced to 9 years in prison for gang-related killing

The body of a man was found after a house fire in northeast Edmonton. Jan. 23, 2022. (Brandon Lynch/CTV News Edmonton)

The man who killed Thomas Richard Russell in 2022 will spend nine years in prison.

Russell's body was found after a fire in a house at 118 Avenue and 79 Street on Jan. 23 of that year.

Seven months later, Kody Shortneck was arrested and charged with kidnapping with a firearm, manslaughter with a firearm, interfere with a dead body and arson.

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He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a weapon and commission of an offence at the direction of a criminal organization.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Shortneck was a member of the Red Alert gang.

Russell had claimed to be a high-ranking member of the gang, but was not actually a member.

Shortly before Russell's death, Shortneck was given an order by a senior member of the gang to punish Russell for his claims.

Russell, 32, was lured into the house on 118 Avenue by a youth and a senior member of the gang and forced into the basement at shotgun point.

According to court documents, the gang member told Shortneck to "take care of it."

Shortneck originally refused but the gang member turned the shotgun toward him, so he felt he had no choice.

He and the youth each fired one shotgun blast into each of Russell's legs and left him alone in the basement where he bled to death later that day.

Shortneck then bought gas and returned to the house and used the gas to set it on fire.

He had been released from the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre two weeks before Russell's death and was under a probation order and firearms prohibition.

Justice JT Henderson called the crime an "extreme act of brutality."

"The shooting was not an impulsive act," he said during the sentencing decision.

"It was calculated and planned."

Shortneck was given the chance to address the court before the sentence was read.

"I just want to apologize to the family," he said.

"It hurts me knowing I took someone away from you guys."

Justice Henderson sentenced Shortneck to 12 years for the manslaughter charge and one year for the second charge.

With time served he has nine years and two months remaining on his sentence.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson