Deadly Ertale Lounge shooting: police lay firearm trafficking charge

Exterior of Ertale lounge where a shooting took place early morning on March 12, 2022. (Jonas Gilbart, CityNews)

Posted February 7, 2024 11:37 am.

Last Updated February 7, 2024 11:40 am.

Edmonton police have charged a Parkland County man who allegedly illegally sold a gun used in the deadly 2022 shooting outside the Ertale Lounge.

Police believe suspects fired roughly 70 rounds into a crowded area outside the lounge on 124 Street and 118 Avenue on March 12, 2022.

Twenty-eight-year-old Imbert George was killed, and seven others were injured. Investigators described it as a mass shooting of innocent bystanders.

Edmonton police previously arrested suspects they allege were directly implicated in the shooting. This latest arrest involves a man they claim was operating as a “straw buyer” – a person who legally purchases a gun, then sells it illegally.

EPS says in June 2022, 31-year-old Russell Lawrence Streeter reported a break and enter to Parkland RCMP during which many of his registered (restricted) firearms were allegedly stolen.

In May 2023, Edmonton police say they recovered a defaced gun involved in organized crime that was once registered to Streeter.

In October 2023, police say they determined – using ballistic analysis – the defaced gun once registered to Streeter was used in the Ertale shooting. That began a four-month firearm trafficking investigation.

On Jan. 30, Edmonton police and Parkland County RCMP say they searched Streeter’s home and found “additional evidence to support that he was trafficking firearms.”

Streeter was arrested and charged with five counts of firearms trafficking and one count of making a false statement to police.

*Scene outside Edmonton’s Ertale lounge on March 13, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Jonas Gilbart)*

“The result of the shooting that followed this illegal firearm sale has been devastating for so many people and continues to underscore the need to diligently investigate and charge individuals involved in firearms trafficking,” said Acting Insp. Eric Stewart with the EPS organized crime branch in a news release.

“We were able to successfully hold someone accountable in this case.”

Edmonton police had previously made three arrests in connection to the Ertale Lounge shooting: Samatar Mohiadin, Mohamod Mohamod, and Said Ibrahim.

Investigators are still looking for Saed Osman, who is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. Osman is among Canada’s most-wanted suspects, with the national Bolo Program offering a $75,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.

Police are also looking for a fifth unknown suspect who they say was captured on surveillance video. He was seen wearing a grey coat, dark pants and a black balaclava.