Man wanted in 2023 West Edmonton Mall shooting among Canada’s top fugitives

A man accused of being involved in the 2023 West Edmonton Mall shooting that injured three people is among two Edmonton suspects on Canada’s most-wanted list.

Leron Andrew John, 24, is the 16th most-wanted fugitive in Canada, according to latest top 25 list published by the Bolo Program Wednesday.

On Aug. 21, 2023, one of the largest malls in North America was locked down for two hours – with frightened shoppers still inside – after a shooting in the parking lot.

BACKGROUND: Two groups exchanged gunfire outside West Edmonton Mall; vehicle, gun recovered

Police say a group of suspects waited in a vehicle in the parking lot for four individuals to emerge from the mall before opening fire on them. Authorities have said it was a targeted shooting.

Two of the targeted men ran into the West Edmonton Mall, according to police – one into the Wild West shooting range and another through the mall. Three of the men involved were hit by bullets and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers later recovered a handgun inside the mall.

Authorities say multiple civilian vehicles were struck, including one five blocks away in a residential area near playgrounds and a school.

“I think that the blatant nature of the events that occurred back in August 2023, happening in a public place, approximately at least 21 rounds were fired between two different groups, and that rounds travelled blocks and blocks away. It was just a miracle that no innocent party didn’t get hit,” said Sgt. Erik Bjarnason with the EPS Firearms Investigation Unit.

“This was a very blatant disregard for public safety.”

Edmonton police say John is a suspect in that shooting; he is wanted Canada-wide for discharging a firearm with intent, reckless discharging of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and altering the serial number of a firearm.

He is described as five-foot six, weighing 125 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Police say he has ties to Edmonton and the Northwest Territories.

He has several additional warrants for his arrest in connection with firearm and drug incidents in Fort Resolution, NWT.

John may be armed and is considered dangerous, police add.

Authorities are still working to identify other suspects in the WEM shooting, with Bjarnason calling the investigation “massive” and “complex.”

Saed Osman remains on Bolo list

John joins a familiar face for Edmonton on Bolo’s top 25 list, with Saed Osman appearing for the fourth time – now in the 19th position.

Osman is wanted on charges including first-degree-murder in connection to the March 2022 mass shooting outside Edmonton’s Ertale Lounge.

He is described as six-feet tall weighing 180 lbs., with brown eyes, black hair (possibly braided) and a scar on his right wrist.

Police believe Osman, who is from Ontario, may still be living in Edmonton as he has “strong ties” to the city. The 29-year-old is also known as Guled Osman or by the nickname “Styles,” according to police.

“We never give up,” Bjarnason said. “Especially within my unit, the investigations are prolonged, but it’s because we are always striving for investigative excellence and making sure that we can hold every individual that we can for these types of blatant, terrific crimes accountable.”

How useful is the Bolo list?

Criminologist Doug King describes most-wanted lists as “moderately effective.”

“Their effectiveness has been on the decrease, just because most people don’t take advantage of looking at these things, and the same is also true with Crime Stoppers,” said King, a professor of justice studies at Mount Royal University.

King says similar programs have seen a decline as viewers move away from traditional media.

The Bolo Program, which launched in 2018, says 30-of-70 fugitives on the list have been arrested. Among their tools are billboards, social media, and new this year: a most-wanted advent calendar.

King says the lists are most effective when they reach those who know the suspect.

“It will be someone motivated by maybe a little bit of revenge,” King said.

Canada’s top fugitives are Dave Turmel (Quebec City), All Boivin (Saguenay), Rabih Alkhalil (B.C.), Adrian Walker (Toronto), and Phillip Grant (Toronto).