A 16-year-old Stoney Nakoda Nation youth has been charged with the shooting of a German tourist earlier his month on Hwy. 1A.

Fourteen criminal code offences, including attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent and possession of a prohibited weapon, have been laid against the male youth, who cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

There was a second person in the shooter’s vehicle, confirmed Cpl. Curtis Peters, RCMP communications officer, but only the shooter is considered a suspect.

The youth was located on the Stoney Nakoda Nation on Aug. 24 and taken into custody without incident He remains in custody and is scheduled to make his first court appearance today at the Cochrane Provincial Court.

Investigators have located and seized the vehicle and firearm believed to be involved in the shooting, says Peters. The bullet has been removed by German doctors and will be compared forensically to the seized firearm.

The 60-year-old German man, who has returned to his home, has been regularly updated on the case and he and his family are pleased with the progress made, says Peters.

“He has a very long road of recovery,” says Peters. “They’ll be an extensive amount of physiotherapy to try and regain his qualify of life. This has been a life-changing event for him.”

The German tourist was driving eastbound on Hwy. 1A with three other family members just west of the Chief Goodstoney Rodeo Centre on Aug. 2 when a vehicle came alongside. As the suspect’s vehicle passed, a gunshot was fired from the passenger side into the driver’s window, striking the driver of the Durango in the head. It then continued eastbound on Hwy. 1A.

The RCMP continue to believe there was no conflict or contact between the shooter and his victim prior to the incident but were unwilling to further discuss the motive because the case is now before the courts.

Peters says it was some good old-fashioned police work that lead to the arrest. Over the course of the investigation over 100 people were interviewed.

“It was knocking on doors and interviewing people and that’s why it’s taken a certain amount of time to get to the end and that’s ultimately what built the case.”

The RCMP appreciate the assistance and cooperation received.

The investigation is ongoing, however, no additional suspects are being sought.