RCMP shooting suspect’s parents urge him to surrender
Written by on February 9th, 2012 in Latest News.
The parents of the suspect in the shooting of two RCMP officers near Killam, Alta., have questioned the fugitive to turn himself in — with his father urging him to “swallow your hurt” and come home.
“Sawyer, we like you,” said Sawyer Robison’s father Ray Robison at a news conference on Thursday outside the RCMP detachment in Killam. “You know that.”
“We want to have you back and we know how hard it may be for you to come back to us,” he said, standing beside his wife Carol Clarke and Sawyer’s friend Graham Burden.
“Swallow your hurt and listen to the silent world,” said Robison.
Police consider Sawyer Robison armed and a danger to police. (CBC)
“You and Brad have more support than you can realize.”
It’s believed Robison’s uncle, Brad Clarke, was shot and killed during the shootout.
Sawyer Robison, 27, is facing two counts of attempted murder after two officers were shot and wounded in a rural home near the central Alberta town.
“We know he was in the residence at the time of the shooting,” said Sgt. Patrick Webb. “We know he is involved somehow.”
The two officers, Const. Sheldon Shah and Const. Sidney Gaudette, are recovering in Edmonton hospitals with non-life-threatening wounds.
‘He does have an issue with obviously the RCMP.’—Sgt. Patrick Webb
Shah and Gaudette were at the house with two other officers to do a search warrant for a .45-calibre handgun, which police believe may be connected to a domestic incident in the area.
RCMP believe Robison is armed and may be a threat to police officers.
“Everything we have points that he has at least one long-barrelled firearm, maybe two, maybe more, maybe other weapons,” said Webb.
The rural home near Killam, Alta., where two RCMP officers were shot Tuesday. (RCMP)
“But at the same time, everything that we’ve got so far also points to the fact that he really does not have an issue with the general public or any particular person.
“He does have an issue with obviously the RCMP looking for him now and basically authority figures,” he said.
Police follow up on tips
Police said Robison likely escaped from the home following the shooting, but before the house was surrounded by officers and tactical units.
“We had the residence really contained honestly shortly after it started off, but there was a time gap,” said Webb.
“You can’t get everybody there at the same instant. So it was not until we really went into the residence yesterday and found out the only occupant was one deceased male.… That’s when we knew he was somewhere else.”
Police have 15 investigators following up on tips from the public, said Webb.
The Mounties are now checking locations in the province that Robison has been known to frequent.
Robison is described as having a fit appearance, being six-foot-two and about 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
He is likely driving a black 2000 Chevrolet Silverado with Alberta licence plate number UZE 545.
