Senior charged in shooting of teen on rural property north of Edmonton

A 16-year-old St. Albert boy suffered life-threatening injuries after he was shot over the weekend.

Mounties say two St. Albert teens, ages 15 and 16, were on a rural property on Range Road 255 near St. Albert on Saturday when they were confronted by a man with a gun who shot the 16-year-old boy.

Jim Bregin, 84, has been charged with aggravated assault, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and intentional reckless discharge of a firearm.

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He was taken into custody and a court date has been set for July 4 in Morinville.

"The two youths were on this gentleman's property. We're still trying to figure out exactly what they were doing," Cpl. Troy Savinkoff told CTV News on Wednesday. "They reported to us that they were looking at some cars that were on the property. And then they were confronted by this male who shot one of the kids. They left the property and called us."

"We did conduct a search warrant on the property and investigated the crime scene itself. And we've seized some firearms from that property."

Savinkoff says land owners aren't always aware of the law when it comes to defending their property.

"It's one of those things people take the law into their own hands. And it comes with its own difficulties."

"This could be a case where perception and reality may have been something different. And unfortunately, there's a youth who has very serious injuries, and a man who's currently in custody."

A neighbour told CTV News Edmonton he's lived in the area for years and has never met the accused.

"I heard an old fella shot a young kid," he said Wednesday.

"I've been out here 50 years and I've never met the people that live there or know anything about them.

Savinkoff says the victim's condition has since been updated to stable.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk