Man wanted in ‘random’ July shooting in Edmonton arrested in Yellowknife

An Edmonton man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant was arrested in Yellowknife after a woman was shot in the middle of the night earlier this year when she reportedly asked the driver of a car to stop revving its engine.

The shooting happened on Sunday, July 14, 2024, shortly after 4 a.m. near Edmonton’s downtown core in the Queen Mary Park neighbourhood

Police officials said a vehicle near 109A Avenue and 110 Street was loudly revving its engine when an 18-year-old woman went out onto the balcony of her apartment to ask the driver of the vehicle to quiet down.

The male suspect, who police said was visiting a nearby location and was being picked up by the driver, approached the vehicle and began arguing with the woman, who was still outside her apartment.

The suspect fired a shot at the woman before getting into the vehicle, and fleeing the scene, police officials said.

Police officers confirmed that the woman was not physically injured but continues to suffer ongoing mental and emotional trauma because of the life-threatening encounter. According to EPS, the woman and the accused were not known to each other and the shooting was completely random.

“This shooting is a prime example of the gun violence in our city that our units are prioritizing. We do not take these public occurrences lightly and will not stop at city limits to apprehend those responsible for gun violence in our city,” said Staff Sergeant Eric Stewart, with the EPS Guns and Gangs Section.

The EPS Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) took over the investigation and were able to identify the shooter as Jackito Guiawan, 19, and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest.

Yellowknife RCMP searched a home and arrested Guiawan. During the search, police said three firearms were recovered, along with evidence of drug trafficking. Guiawan was booked on several charges stemming from the Yellowknife investigation.

The EPS firearms unit conducted a ballistic analysis on one of the guns seized and said it formed the belief it was the same gun used in the shooting.

Earlier this month, Edmonton police went up to Yellowknife to arrest Guiawan on the Canada-wide warrant.

Guiawan was charged with discharging a firearm with intent, discharging a firearm recklessly, possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized, unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle and possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition.

“Unprovoked, random attacks on innocent civilians will not be overlooked, and the expansion of our Firearms Investigation Unit will continue to prioritize these occurrences, as well as actively pursue those involved,” added Staff Sergeant Eric Stewart.