Keiston Custer was sentenced Monday at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

West Flat shooting incident results in 12-year prison sentence

Jan 24, 2023 | 11:08 AM

A confrontation between two members of a street gang resulted in one of the men being shot in the back and dying in hospital.

That was among the facts heard Monday during Keiston Custer’s sentencing hearing at Prince Albert Provincial Court. The 27-year-old from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, was initially supposed to appear for a preliminary hearing but opted instead to enter a number of guilty pleas and ultimately received a 12-year prison sentence.

In relation to the matter from May, 2021, police were called to an address in the 900 block of 17th St. W. Norman Charles Custer, 44, was found outside the residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He later died in hospital.

The relationship between the accused and the victim was not made clear in court, however there was some discussion the two men may have been distant cousins.

Keiston Custer was initially charged with second degree murder, but entered a guilty plea to the lesser offence.

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According to facts read in court, Custer, a member of a street gang, had gone to the address to strip the victim of his colours. The victim met Custer outside and while holding a folding knife, engaged in a confrontation with Custer who brought a sawed off shotgun.

When the two engaged in a fight, Custer received a cut to his hand and the victim was shot in the back. Custer left the scene without offering help. When the victim was found by paramedics, he was still holding the folding knife which contained Custer’s DNA.

At the time of the incident, Custer was driving a stolen truck.

A photo of the crime scene taken after the shooting incident. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Custer also faced a number of other unrelated charges, including participation in a riot. He was one of five men charged after an incident in January, 2021, at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre.

Roughly $500,000 in damages was the result.

For his involvement, Custer received a six-month sentence which will run concurrently to the more serious conviction. Custer received 912 days credit for time spent in pre-sentence custody.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell