deadmonton 2003 - keith hunter raglon
Keith Hunter Raglon, 20, was shot to death September 21st, 2003.
Shaun Darren Toon, 24, was charged with second-degree murder and three gun-related offences.
A hall where a memorial was being held to honour a man shot a year before became the ironic scene of another murder.
Julian Wright, 20, died in a hail of bullets on September 19th, 2002 as he sat in a car in a parking lot near 145 Avenue and 54 Street.
A year after his murder friends and family gathered at the Athlone Community Centre at 13010 129 Street.
An argument broke out between Wright's sister, Cherone, and a man at the party later identified in court as Jahi Williams. The altercation then spilled outside of the hall. Keith Raglon, who went by the nickname "K-Dog" (pictured above/left), got involved in the discussion and was shot four times.
Three of the four gunshot wounds were not lethal, but one blast to the chest damaged Raglon's heart and liver and caused massive bleeding. He was later pronounced dead at Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Charged with second-degree murder and three gun-related offences was Shaun Darren Toon, 24, of Edmonton (left). His trial began November 21st, 2005.
Court heard that toxicology tests showed Raglon had a blood-alcohol level of .10 and had been recently smoking marijuana. Testimony from a witness to the shooting indicated that Raglon was seen reaching into the waist of his pants just before he was shot, and that a friend of his was spotted taking something from his body right after the shooting.
Testimony from key witness Cherone Wright, a former girlfriend of the accused, showed she was surprised that Toon had a gun at the time of the shooting but was not surprised he was armed at the party adding, "He was probably not the only one in the hall with a gun."
Wright testified the argument began after she threw a beer bottle at Williams. Toon and Raglon got involved, Raglon was shot and Williams was then observed taking something from near Raglon's body and going around a building corner before coming back.
Wright's mother, Patricia Alexander, testified that she met Toon later on the day of the shooting. She said he told her he had shot Raglon after he saw him reaching for something as he came towards him.
Testifying in his own defense, Toon said he was defending himself when Raglon ran toward him. Toon said he was afraid he would get shot and he never meant to kill anyone. Toon said he knew of Raglon's reputation on the street and he felt Raglon would draw a gun.
Toon, under a firearms prohibition at the time, also testified that he had carried a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his back pocket for protection. Crown prosecutor Robert Beck suggested to the court that Toon brought his weapon to the party because he was prepared to use it.
During the tussle, Toon's shirt and jacket were pulled over his head and he fired seven blind shots. Toon claimed his gun was thrown onto some nearby railroad tracks but police were unable to find it. No gun was found on Raglon's body either.
Prior to his arrest Toon had fled to Trinidad in the West Indies. He was extradited back to Edmonton in 2004 to stand trial.
On December 1st, 2005 Toon was found guilty of the reduced charge of manslaughterafter jurors rejected his claim of self defence. The jury decided Toon did not specifically intend to kill Raglon, but ought to have known firing a gun could kill him.
Toon was also convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, using a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence and having a gun without a licence.
On April 12th, 2006 Toon was sentenced to prison for 12 years for manslaughter and two more years for carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a gun without a permit.
Court of Queen's Bench Justice Adam Germain gave Toon 43 months' credit for the 21 1/2 months he spent in pre-trial custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre, leaving him with 10 years, five months left to serve.
Justice Germain said public gun battles won't be tolerated.
"(Toon) was extremely reckless, careless and wilful in his use of the firearm and his pre-shooting decisions in taking a loaded firearm to a party in a residential area and discharging indiscriminately in the vicinity of a large crowd was extremely dangerous," said Germain.
The judge described the scene at the hall where people "were forced to duck for cover" when Toon discharged seven or eight bullets, of which only four hit Raglon.
"Violent crime with the use of a firearm must be particularly discouraged in our community," Germain said. "I hope the community can find a way to heal itself and this grudge with handguns will end."
"It's a miracle no one else was seriously injured or killed," Crown prosecutor Robert Beck earlier told Germain. He had argued Toon deserved a life sentence.