Two men charged in ‘unprovoked’ McDonald’s drive-thru shooting, assault in Strathcona

Edmonton police have charged two men in their 20s related to two separate incidents at fast-food drive-thrus near Whyte Avenue from late last year.

EPS says both incidents took place in the early hours of Oct. 9, 2021.

The first incident occurred around 3 a.m. at a McDonald’s drive-thru on 80 Avenue near 103 Street. A group of five men without a car was ordering food at the window when the suspect vehicle with four people inside drove up to them.

Police say the driver approached the group, pointed a gun at them and fired at the ground, just a few feet away from them.

Nobody was hit by the bullet.

WATCH: EPS seek two suspects involved in drive-thru assaults at Edmonton restaurants (Oct. 22, 2021)

That man and two others then allegedly assaulted two men – an 18-year-old and a 22-year-old – from the group that was ordering food. Police say the assault continued after the victims were on the ground.

The victims suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and were taken to hospital.

Police say the two groups were not known to each other and the attack was unprovoked.

The suspect vehicle – a Dodge Durango – then made its way to another fast-food restaurant on 96 Street and 165 Avenue about 20 minutes later.

Police say one of the suspects from the assault outside the McDonald’s ordered a large amount of food and was asked to wait away from the window while it was being prepared. The suspect allegedly refused to leave and brandished a gun at the employee.

Police have charged a 24-year-old man with discharging a firearm with intent, careless use of a firearm, assault and aggravated assault, among many other charges.

A 21-year-old was charged with aggravated assault.

—With files from Hiba Kamal-Choufi.