Five years in jail for woman in Fuel Stop armed robbery

Video from inside the cab shows McKay taking possession of a .22 lever action rifle, with the stock and barrel both sawed off. She was wearing bright yellow pants and a bright yellow hoodie and put the gun inside the sleeve of the hoodie.

After being caught, McKay attempted to minimize her role, telling police she thought she was just holding the gun while they went inside to play VLTs. The gun was not loaded.

However, video footage from the bar shows her pulling a neck warmer over her face before going inside. Her fellow suspect used a black mask and is alleged to have been carrying a handgun.

Both went inside the bar and were seen pointing their guns at the owner of the bar.

How the robbery went wrong was not made clear in court, but McKay and the other person were chased outside by staff.

McKay was tackled and held down by security staff from the Holiday Inn next door and by bar staff.

The .22 was in the back of McKay’s pants.

That was not the only crime McKay admitted to from a cell in Pine Grove.

On July 15, 2023, PAPS found a zip gun (home made weapon) in McKay’s home when she was on a court ordered weapons ban. Ballistics confirmed that the zip gun – a .22 calibre bolt action – was capable of being shot using conventional ammunition.

In that incident, police were called to the home by the Mobile Crisis Unit who were there to check on the welfare of the four children living in the home because of alleged drug activity.

McKay was not there at the time but was at a nearby home. An adult was in the home and yelled and swore at officers to get out when they entered the home.

She called McKay when police started checking the bedrooms to make sure the children were safe.

Once officers were in the room, they spotted a gun stock in the closet. Closer examination revealed the zip gun, which also had its barrel cut off.

After being allowed out on bail following the armed robbery, on at least two occasions McKay cut off her electronic monitoring bracelets and left the home she was supposed to remain inside.

Despite the severity of McKay’s recent crimes, she does not have a lengthy criminal history, a fact noted by the court.

Her five children are aged four to 12 and will stay with family while McKay is incarcerated.

McKay is originally from Meadow Lake but spent much of her childhood in Prince Albert and is a member of the Buffalo River Dene Nation.

Court heard her father was never a presence in her life and she faced abuse.

She began using ecstasy at age 12 or 13. By 21, she graduated to meth and joined a gang.

According to her lawyer, McKay is working with Str8 Up to exit gang life and plans work in making a home for her family once she is released.

“I’m going to take this time to work on myself for my kids,” she said. “I’ll take whatever consequences you give me.”

McKay was given a five-year sentence and all other sentences for the other crimes will be served concurrently. She will get pre-trial custody for 110 days and if eligible, will serve some of her time at the healing lodge in Meadow Lake.

She also has 15-year firearms ban and must submit a sample to the national DNA data base.

Nap McCallum’s case remains before the courts.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

Five years in jail for woman in Fuel Stop armed robbery

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