A man accused of being involved in the 2023 West Edmonton Mall shooting that injured three people is among two Edmonton suspects on Canada’s most-wanted list.
Leron Andrew John, 24, is the 16th most-wanted fugitive in Canada, according to latest top 25 list published by the Bolo Program Wednesday.
On Aug. 21, 2023, one of the largest malls in North America was locked down for two hours – with frightened shoppers still inside – after a shooting in the parking lot.
BACKGROUND: Two groups exchanged gunfire outside West Edmonton Mall; vehicle, gun recovered
Police say a group of suspects waited in a vehicle in the parking lot for four individuals to emerge from the mall before opening fire on them. Authorities have said it was a targeted shooting.
Two of the targeted men ran into the West Edmonton Mall, according to police – one into the Wild West shooting range and another through the mall. Three of the men involved were hit by bullets and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police later recovered a handgun inside the mall.
“Numerous civilian vehicles were struck, a stray bullet travelled five blocks and struck a parked vehicle in a residential area near playgrounds and a school, and this shooting event was the catalyst for a lockdown event at West Edmonton Mall that caused people to have to shelter in place for hours while a police Tactical Unit cleared the facility,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart with the EPS Guns and Gangs Section in a news release.
Edmonton police say John is a suspect in that shooting; he is wanted Canada-wide for discharging a firearm with intent, reckless discharging of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and altering the serial number of a firearm.
He is described as five-foot six, weighing 125 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Police say he has ties to Edmonton and the Northwest Territories.
He has several additional warrants for his arrest in connection with firearm and drug incidents in Fort Resolution, NWT.
John may be armed and is considered dangerous, police add.
John joins a familiar face for Edmonton on Bolo’s top 25 list, with Saed Osman appearing again – this time in the 19th position.
Osman is wanted on charges including first-degree-murder in connection to the March 2022 mass shooting outside Edmonton’s Ertale Lounge.
He is described as six-feet tall weighing 180 lbs., with brown eyes, black hair (possibly braided) and a scar on his right wrist.
Police believe Osman, who is from Ontario, may still be living in Edmonton as he has “strong ties” to the city. The 29-year-old is also known as Guled Osman or by the nickname “Styles,” according to police.
Canada’s top fugitives are Dave Turmel (Quebec City), All Boivin (Saguenay), Rabih Alkhalil (B.C.), Adrian Walker (Toronto), and Phillip Grant (Toronto).