Two suspects charged with attempted murder in a shooting in front of the Leland Hotel in downtown Ponoka on Sept. 21, 2022, are scheduled to appear in Ponoka Provincial Court on Feb. 17, to set a date for trial.
Eldon James Saddleback Junior, 34, a resident of Maskwacis, and Anthony Kelsey Lee Omeasoo, 29, a resident of Wetaskiwin, pleaded not guilty and decided go ahead with a judge-alone trial on Dec. 16, 2022.
On Sept. 21, at 2:51 a.m., Ponoka RCMP received reports of a shooting near the Leland Hotel.
Video footage from a business on Chipman Avenue showed a black car swerve into a tree and then hit the curb on the opposite side of the street before an individual took off on foot.
A victim with what appeared to be multiple gun shot wounds was identified and taken to hospital by STARS in stable condition.
The car, with what looked like several bullet holes, was towed away from the street after police finished with the scene later that day.
Saddleback and Omeasoo were apprehended in Banff National Park on Sept. 26.
The pair were charged with attempted murder as well as aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, discharge of a firearm with intent, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and failure to comply with a release order.
Saddleback was also charged with possession of a weapon contrary to an order.
