Edmonton

Police have laid first-degree murder charges against three suspects in a pair of Mac’s Convenience store slayings that shook Edmonton Friday.

On Saturday, Edmonton Police Service homicide detectives charged a 13-year-old boy and two men aged 24 and 27, each with two counts of first-degree murder as well as being disguised with intent, and robbery with a prohibited restricted firearm.

Police also confirmed the identity of the second victim, 41-year-old Ricky Massin Cenabre.

Two Mac’s clerks died early Friday morning after being shot during separate robberies that police chief Rod Knecht described as “barbaric and gratuitous.”

The first victim -- Karanpal Singh Bhangu, 35 -- died in hospital after being shot in the stomach while working at the Mac’s store near 32 Ave. and 82 St., with police dispatched after an emergency alarm was pulled around 3:30 a.m.

The second case was reported via a 911 call from a citizen minutes later, around 3:43 a.m., with Cenabre dead at the Mac’s scene near 108 Street and 61 Avenue.

Knecht said video evidence from the stores showed neither of the victims showed any sign of resistance or aggression toward the masked suspects. He also said the amount of money in the Mac’s tills at that time of morning would have been “minimal.”

The three suspects, all known to police, were arrested later that day in a dramatic police takedown on Whitemud Drive after their stolen vehicle crashed under the Terwillegar Drive overpass.

A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Bhangu’s family has been set up at gofundme.com/4bfhtxv8

In addition to the aforementioned charges, 24-year-old Laylin Delorme has also been charged with two counts of possession of a loaded prohibited restricted firearm and possessing a prohibited firearm, and one count of dangerous driving, criminal flight, and possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Colton Steinhauer, 27, was also charged with one count each of possession of a weapon, possession of a loaded prohibited restricted firearm, and possessing a prohibited firearm.

The 13-year-old was also charged with two counts of breach of undertaking.

kevin.maimann@sunmedia.ca

@SunKevinM