last link on the left › deadmonton

Duane Albert McArthur, 44, died of a gunshot wound on April 23rd, 2009.

MacArthur was Edmonton's eighth homicide victim of the year.

Pierre Kabema Ilunga, 18, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Police investigated two apparent botched armed robberies that resulted in a murder-suicide. The case was Edmonton's second homicide in two days.

Officers were first called to the Mill Woods subdivision after reports of shots fired came in at about 10:15 a.m. on April 23rd, 2009.

Staff of the Medicine Shoppe at 127 Millbourne Road East heard gunshots coming from the Bella Tonic spa next door.

A woman in the spa called 911 and told police her husband had been shot during a robbery after confronting an armed man.

Reports indicate that the shooter, described as a black male about 30 years old, then fled to the Millbourne Market Mall located several blocks north.

Ten minutes later, a second call to police reported that an armed robbery was taking place in the Millbourne Liquor Store at the mall.

When police arrived to handle the initial 911 call they saw a man with a gun in his hand come out of the liquor store.

The man saw the officers, went back into the store, then came out – took a swig from a bottle – and shot himself. His body fell into the store's doorway.

Meanwhile back at the spa, paramedics found a gunshot victim and pronounced him dead.

Police blocked off the parking lot of the mall and six neighbouring schools – including St. Elizabeth Elementary at 7712 36 Avenue and St. Hilda Junior High at 7630 38 Avenue – were locked down for about a half hour. About 700 students were affected in total in addition to 40 children in a day care.

Authorities believed the two armed robberies were connected, with a police spokesman saying that descriptions of the suspect in both incidents were a match. There was no word if any cash was netted in either robbery.

There were also reports of a injured man leaving the spa after the intial shooting and staggering into the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy next door.

A table was set up at the liquor store to shield the body from view while officers examined the scene.

Initially, police only identified the two shooting victims as adult males and were not able to find a link between them. Police also said that no shots were fired by officers. Both the robbery and homicide units worked on the investigation.

An employee at Bella Tonic said the salon was a family-run business owned by Nina Bains and her husband, and that their son and son-in-law also worked at the shop.

Media were first to identify the shooting victim as 44-year-old Duane Albert McArthur. An autopsy revealed he died of a gunshot wound.

Police later said that 18-year-old Pierre Kabema Ilunga died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

In a press release police said their investigation into the matter remains ongoing but that no other suspects were being sought.

All the information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site.
The Last Link on the Left practices fair presentation and the disclosure of relevant interests.
Mouseover for image credits.

deadmonton 2009 - duane albert mcarthur