Charges adjourned for July hostage-taking incident

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 2, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The charges against a 40-year-old Lethbridge woman accused of entering Lethbridge Legal Guidance on July 14 and taking hostages were adjourned once again in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday.

Lethbridge lawyer Claudia Connolly appeared in Lethbridge provincial court on Thursday representing Courtney Louise Shaw, to seek an adjournment to Sept. 15 to discuss her matters when the appointed Crown prosecutor will be in attendance.

Shaw appeared in Lethbridge provincial court via CCTV. She remains in custody as the Crown is opposed to her release.

Shaw is facing numerous charges including one count of attempted murder, aggravated assault, taking a hostage, four counts of pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, four counts of unlawful confinement, four counts of uttering threats and five counts of assault with a weapon.

According to information released by the LPS, a female suspect entered Lethbridge Legal Guidance on the 400 block of 5 St. S. on July 14 where four employees were present and asked to speak to a specific lawyer.

After being told that lawyer wasn’t available, the suspect asked to use a washroom and after about 10 minutes, she came out and pointed a black handgun at two employees and threatened to kill them. One staffer was able to grab a phone and hide under her desk to call 911.

Police said that as the situation progressed, the suspect also produced a knife and continued to threaten to kill the employees if they tried to leave and didn’t get the lawyer on the phone.

She then forced a 54-year-old female into an office and closed the door. The other employees then escaped.

The 54-year-old female sustained serious injuries after being stabbed in the neck multiple times.

EMS took her to Chinook Regional Hospital where she was stabilized before undergoing surgery.

Police seized a knife and an airsoft handgun at the scene.

Following further investigation, including testing of the airsoft handgun seized at the scene, it was determined the weapon met the definition of a firearm based on the velocity of its projectile. As a result, the original charges referring to an imitation weapon were replaced with firearm charges.

– with files from Al Beeber

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