On the morning of Jan. 4, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 500 block of 22nd St. E. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

‘I nearly died in that hospital bed multiple times’: charges laid following Prince Albert ride-sharing incident

Mar 12, 2021 | 2:00 PM

A 27-year-old woman is facing multiple charges including robbery and assault with a weapon, following an incident in the city’s East Hill area last January.

Jeanique April appeared by phone Thursday afternoon at Prince Albert Provincial Court. Court records indicated the charges were sworn on Jan. 21 and she was released from custody on Feb. 18 on a number of conditions.

According to information from police on Jan. 6, officers responded to a shooting around 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 4. Police indicated one man was taken to hospital with a gun shot wound to his back. No other details about the incident were available.

Speaking to paNOW on the condition of anonymity, due to the possible gang related nature of the crime, the victim expressed his thankfulness to be alive, and also his frustration with the legal process.

“I was shot in the back and was bleeding to death in my own truck. I survived after 20 some odd days in the hospital. I suffered stage four kidney damage as well as damage to my other organs,'” he said.

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On the morning in question, the man had offered to provide a ride to someone in need, through the Facebook group P.A. Safe Rides. He later received a message regarding a pick up in the 600 block of 17th St. W.

A screen shot taken of the victim’s Facebook post on Jan. 4, 2020. (Facebook)

Details regarding how the shooting took place are now before the courts, although paNOW has been told by the victim, more than one person was involved. Frustrated that the court consented to April’s release, and noting the shooter has not been located, he claims the legal system is not treating his case seriously.

“As a person I feel completely disregarded because I nearly died in that hospital bed multiple times,” he said.

As of Thursday, the P.A. Safe Rides group has 4,500 members. According to a disclaimer message posted on the page, the administrators and moderators are not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items and are not liable for any injury that may occur.

The group’s main administrator Joey Turner told paNOW it’s his understanding the shooter was not one of the actual scheduled passengers, and added there’s been no other violent incidents. He also explained the page is monitored full time.

“We come to terms and agreements with all passengers and drivers and yes there is a process to join the page and questions to be answered and if they aren’t followed they will either be declined to join or they will be messaged questions to answer from us,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell