Man shot to death at mall shooting range
August 17, 2008 at 11:39 PM EDT
EDMONTON � Authorities are trying to figure out how a man ended up getting shot to death at a firing range inside West Edmonton Mall on Sunday afternoon.
Police say the man crossed under a protective barrier at the Wild West Shooting Centre and into the target side of the range, but they do not believe it was a criminal incident.
Cody Priddle, who was inside the range and witnessed the shooting, said he can't explain why the man chose to do something so dangerous.
�I don't know why he got shot. I don't know why he went up there . . . I just saw him drop to the ground,� Mr. Priddle told CHED radio.
Acting Police Inspector Darcy Strang said it doesn't appear the firing range did anything wrong, although investigators are still examining the safety angle.
The age and name of the victim have not yet been released.
This is the third shooting at the range in just over a year.
In July, 2007, two incidents occurred, one in which a man shot himself in the face, and another where a man killed himself.
A representative for the shooting centre couldn't be reached for comment on Sunday evening.
When last year's shootings occurred, Wild West owner Ken Kupsch said he had no plans to change the range's rules, but would consult other centres on what steps they take.
He said his staff turn people away if they're not comfortable with them, and that people who appear to be suffering from anxiety or have been drinking are not admitted.
The security office at West Edmonton Mall said that a spokesman for the mall did not want to comment on Sunday about the shooting.
