A quiet evening in Stettler turned to panic on Monday after lit fireworks were dropped from a black SUV, triggering fears of gunfire among residents.
The incident occurred on Sept. 14 around 8:35 p.m. near 48th Street and 48th Avenue, one block north of the town’s fire station.
According to witness reports, a black SUV carrying multiple occupants stopped in the neighbourhood, shouted out the window, and dropped fireworks onto the road before fleeing the scene.
Noah Stonehouse, a resident who was walking home at the time, was hit by flying debris from the blast but did not sustain any injuries.
“It sounded kind of like a little .22 or a small pistol,” Stonehouse said. “They yelled something out the window, dropped a firework, and drove off. It was blowing up all over the houses on the block.”
Area resident Lylas McKnight was inside her house when the fireworks struck her property.
“We were just sitting in our living room, and all of a sudden we heard a couple big bangs,” McKnight said, noting that her home’s stucco exterior and metal roof helped prevent any fire damage.
The local fire chief, who lives on the block, responded to the scene within a minute of the blast.
Neighbours and local fireworks retailers are reviewing security camera footage to help police identify the vehicle and suspects involved.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
