Two charged with attempted murder in shooting incident in Lac La Biche

One person has been sent to hospital in Edmonton after suffering a gunshot wound and three people have been charged.

In the early morning on Jan. 4, Lac La Biche RCMP received a call from the complaintant, and police arrived to see the victim suffering from serious injuries.

RCMP said they provided immediate first aid to the victim before being transferred to the Lac La Biche Healthcare Centre and then flown to the University of Alberta Hospital.

The Lac La Biche RCMP with the assistance of the Edmonton General Investigative Section North, Eastern Alberta District General Investigative Section, Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, Lac La Biche Crime Reduction Unit and both Cold Lake and St. Paul Police Dog Services entered into an investigation to the events that took place.

On Wednesday, as a result of the investigation RCMP arrested and charged three individuals in relation to the incident.

Joel Cory Desjarlais, 38, and Riel Desjarlais, 25, of Lac La Biche have been charged with:

• Attempted Murder with a firearm
• Aggravated Assault
• Forcible Confinement
• Assault with a Weapon

At the time his arrest, Joel Desjarlais was also wanted on a Canada wide warrant for being unlawfully at large for breaching the conditions of his parole.

Einar Johansen, 58, of Lac La Biche has been charged with:

• Aggravated Assault
• Forcible Confinement
• Assault with a Weapon

All three have been remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear in Lac La Biche Provincial Court on Jan. 11, 2021.