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By Erika Rolling
Crime

Six people charged in Highway 58 shooting investigation

May 14, 2025 | 11:53 AM

Mounties in High Level say a man was innocently shot while driving along Highway 58 in the early morning hours on Thursday, May 8.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., High Level RCMP were made aware of the incident and responded to the call. The male victim had sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation opened into the shooting, and the initial findings have suggested it was supposed to be a targeted event but happened to the wrong vehicle.

Further investigation unveiled that the suspect vehicle was in Fort Vermillion and led to the arrest of two suspects, and found that four more people were involved.

Search warrants for two residences in Fort Vermillion were obtained by High Level RCMP associated to these individuals. They were executed with help from Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team, Alberta RMCP Police Dog Services, and Fort Vermilion RCMP.

None of the outstanding suspects were arrested, but nine rifles and ammunition were seized from the residences. The weapon involved in the shooting was not recovered.

Following investigations, RCMP arrested two individuals and charged another four for the highway shooting.

Thirty-eight-year-old Ryan Auger of South Talltree, AB and 27-year-old Cryingwind Didzena of Fort Vermillion.

The four still at-large are; 29-year-old Elmer Didzena of Fort Vermilion, 41-year-old Christopher Schellenberg of Bushe River, 25-year-old Annabelle Laboucan of Fox Lake, and 21-year-old Megan Bulldog of John D’or Prairie.

These six have all been charged with the following offences:

  • Discharge a firearm while being reckless
  • Aggravated assault
  • Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon
  • Possession of a restricted firearm without a license
  • Using a firearm in the commission of an offence
  • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
  • Dangerous operation of a motor veicle
  • Pointing a firearm
  • Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle

Auger and Didzena were both remanded into custody after being brought before a Justice of the Peace. They appeared in High Level’s Alberta Court of Justice on Monday, May 12.

Elmer Didzena, Christopher Schellenberg, Annabelle Laboucan, and Megan Bulldog remain at large and currently have warrants issued for their arrest.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the four accused are asked not to approach, but to please contact the High Level RCMP detachment at 780-926-2226, or their local police service. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app.

by Erika Rolling