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Written by THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
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HOBBEMA, Alta. - Relatives who tried and failed to revive a young man who had been fatally shot on a violence-plagued central Alberta reserve were grieving their loss Sunday.
Brian Littlechild, 20, was known to have gang ties, police said. "I saw him lying on the ground with a big gunshot (wound)," said Littlechild's 12-year-old stepbrother, Tre Littlechild.
"I never saw someone die in my life, in front of me. I was scared. I thought he was going to make it."
Brian Littlechild's stepmother, Patricia Ermineskin, said she could not save him.
"Me and the guys that were resuscitating him were getting a heartbeat, but it started to fade and his eyes just rolled back," she said.
Police said hours earlier another nearby house was shot up and three people inside were injured.
Both incidents are believed to be gang-related.
Brittany Ermineskin, Littlechild's niece, said he knew his shooters: "I don't know why people would do that."
The Erminskine band is one of four on the Hobbema reserve in central Alberta. The reserve is plagued by drug-related gang violence, including drive-by shootings and homicides.
A 20-year-old woman and mother of a young child died Aug. 16 after she was hit in the head when her home was riddled by bullets. Earlier this year, a two-year-old girl was wounded in a drive-by shooting.
Although they admit he had troubles, Littlechild's relatives said he didn't deserve to die.
"It's sad without him," said Tre. "It's boring without him."
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