A photo taken at the time of the incident Oct. 4, 2020. (Submitted)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Drive-by shooting suspects elect to face trial

Mar 8, 2021 | 12:00 PM

A court case surrounding a drive-by shooting in Prince Albert last October is proceeding to trial.

D.J. Montgrand and Keistin Blake Deschambeault were two of the three people charged after the incident near the corner of sixth Ave. E and 28th St. The victim, who was standing in the street, was shot eight times but none of the injuries were life threatening.

While Montgrand is alleged to have been behind the wheel of the stolen SUV, Deschambeault is accused of being the one who pulled the trigger and faces a number of charges including attempted murder, pointing a firearm, and intentional discharge of a firearm.

When the matter was spoken to Monday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court, lawyers for both men elected for the case to be tried by judge alone at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench. No dates have been set at this stage of the proceedings, and only Montgrand has entered not guilty pleas but it’s assumed Deschambeault will follow suit at a later date.

Matilda-Keenatch Yellowhead, a passenger in the vehicle, received a 15-month sentence for her respective role at a separate hearing last January.

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The motive for the attack has not yet been discussed in court but there have been suggestions of gang related ties due to the red colours worn by the victim and the black and white colours worn by the accused.

The suspect vehicle, a black SUV, was located after the incident at an address in the east flat area after crashing into a fence.

Inside the vehicle, police found ammunition as well as a number of weapons, including a rifle and a sawed off shotgun. Police also learned through their investigation the vehicle was the same one sought by Meadow Lake RCMP following an armed robbery on Oct. 3.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell