A German tourist who was shot in the head while driving along Highway 1A west of Morley earlier this month will have "life-altering" injuries, according to the RCMP.
The 60-year-old man was travelling from Banff to Calgary with his family when he was shot in the head by a passing vehicle around 11 a.m. on Aug 2.
"As the second vehicle passed the driver's side a shot was fired from the passenger side of the suspect vehicle. The bullet entered the driver side window of the Dodge Durango, striking the male driver in the head," said RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters, a communications officer for Southern Alberta.
"The Durango continued several hundred metres before leaving the road and crashing into trees on the north side of Highway 1A. The driver was rushed to hospital and later flown back to Germany."
Police initially believed it may have been a case of road rage, but later said it was likely a case of mistaken identity.
"Without a doubt the shot was intentionally fired, whether the victim was the intended person we don't know at this point in time," said Peters, during a press conference on Aug. 16.
He said police are still considering all avenues in the investigation.
Following the shooting the RCMP seized a Chrysler Sebring and arrested a man in Cochrane on Aug. 3, however, both the vehicle and the man were cleared and later released.
"Information we obtained at the time led us to taking that action," said Peters. "Just like any other tip that comes in we'll investigate it and check. That's why we are asking for more tips now.
According to Peters, while the family was driving on Highway 1A they took a detour into the Nakoda Lodge before returning to the highway where they turned onto Branch Road. The family drove along the dirt road for several kilometres before turning around and returning to the highway.
Approximately one kilometre later the family's car was passed and the male driver was shot, just west of the Goodstoney Rodeo Centre.
The driver was conscious and breathing when paramedics arrived and taken by STARS air ambulance to Calgary’s Foothill Hospital. The three other occupants of the car suffered minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment.
The investigation is now being lead by the RCMP serious crimes branch with support from the Cochrane RCMP as well as other detachments and units.
The RCMP said it is looking for any additional tips or information from the public. They are also looking for anyone who may have dash cam footage that was travelling on Highway 1A on Aug. 2 between 11 a.m and noon.
“We want to encourage anyone who may have had contact with this vehicle or seen this vehicle, either on Highway 1A, or at the Nakoda Lodge, or on Branch Road to please contact investigators,” said Peters.
"The timeline when we are looking for this to have taken place would be on August 2, between 11 a.m. and noon. Anyone who encountered this vehicle or has information should call us at the tip line that's been established."
The tip line is 1-844-887-6287. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), by internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by text.
