Fort Smith shooting: Two Alberta men charged after three injured

Two men from Alberta have been charged following a shooting outside Dirty O'Fergie's bar in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, early Saturday morning. The incident, which involved an altercation where bear spray was deployed, prompted a 13-hour shelter-in-place order and an active shooter emergency alert.

Three people were injured in the shooting and required medical treatment outside the territory. While all victims are reported to be stable and expected to recover, one individual sustained “life-altering injuries.”

Sheldon Tan, 22, of Calgary, faces multiple charges including aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, discharging a firearm with intent, possessing property obtained by crime, and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Durrel Courtoreille, 21, of Edmonton, is charged with assault with a weapon and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose related to the deployment of bear spray.

The RCMP noted that neither of the accused individuals is from the local community. The violence disrupted the town’s annual Fireweed Festival, though the event resumed after the lockdown was lifted. Mayor Dana Fergusson issued a statement emphasizing community resilience in the wake of the incident.