EDMONTON — One of three armoured car guards shot and killed during a robbery at the University of Alberta aspired to be a police officer.
Eddie Rejano was also a competitive target shooter and worked a second job as a gun range officer at the Wild West Shooting Centre at West Edmonton Mall.
Yanira Sale, a co-worker at the gun range, said Saturday she keeps thinking 39-year-old Rejano is going to walk through the door to start his shift.
“It hasn’t really sunk in,� she said. “It’s pretty shocking and the manner in which it happened has affected us the most. It should never have happened.�
Rejano was part of a G4S Security crew gunned down in the wee hours Friday as they were making a delivery to a bank ATM machine in a mall-residence complex on the university campus.
Moments later passers-by came discovered the bloody scene. Two guards were found dead by the bank machine with a third critically wounded. A fourth guard was discovered dead on the street outside near a G4S minivan.
A fifth guard with the crew was gone and an armoured truck was later discovered parked and idling on the side of a road near the company’s east end depot.
A manhunt was launched for the arrest of 21-year-old Travis Baumgartner, now wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Police issued a statement from his mother, Sandy Baumgartner, pleading with him to turn himself in to “end this without further bloodshed.�
She said she and her son had argued before he left for his night shift Thursday.
Police were to provide an update on the case Saturday afternoon.
Baumgartner also wanted to become a police officer, said a friend, but felt he didn’t have what it takes for law enforcement.
Darker details about the suspect emerged on his Facebook page. He quoted the anarchist Joker from the movie “Dark Knight� and mused about “popping people off.�
Earlier Saturday, staff at the university reopened the HUB building where the shooting happened. A bouquet of flowers was placed next to the bank machine.
The other guards killed have been identified as Michelle Shegelski, a 26, and Brian Ilesic, 35. Shegelski had worked with G4S for several years and recently got married. She was also training for a triathlon. Ilesic had a 12-year-old daughter.
Matthew Schuman was listed in critical condition in hospital. He is an Air Force firefighter. G4S was his second job.
Rejano started with G4S in January and loved the job, said Sale. He eventually wanted to join the Edmonton police force.
“He liked the aspects of protecting individuals and taking care of the community,� she said.
Rejano continued to work part-time at the gun range and often gushed while talking about his two sons, ages 7 and 4, she said.
She said staff at the gun range have started collecting donations for his wife and family.
“It’s going to take a long time for this all to sink in. And I just hope the individual responsible, he comes forward and we can all deal with this and move forward as best we can.�
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