The Edmonton man accused of killing three armoured guards and critically injuring another has been held in custody at the Langley detachment since his arrest on Saturday at the Aldergrove border crossing.
Travis Baumgartner, 21, is accused of shooting four of his co-workers who were putting cash into an ATM machine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton on Friday.
“By all accounts, our investigators have informed us that Mr. Baumgartner is co-operating with them,” said Supt. Bob Hassel, of Edmonton Police’s Criminal Investigations Division.
“Our investigation continues.” Baumgartner appeared before a Justice on Sunday charged with three counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted murder and four counts of robbery with a firearm.
Edmonton Police forensic experts have now completed their investigation on Baumgartner’s blue Ford F-150 truck which has been held in evidence at the Langley detachment. Sheriffs will accompany him back to Edmonton sometime later this week.
An intensive manhunt had been underway since Edmonton Police announced that he was the prime suspect in the murders that took place Friday.
In that time, Baumgartner drove to B.C. and was arrested Saturday evening after attempting to cross the border into the U.S. at the Aldergrove/Lynden Wash. crossing.
Edmonton Police arrived in Langley on Sunday morning to do a thorough search of Baumgartner’s truck and to interview him.
“Mr. Baumgartner will be remanded in custody for six days. He has appeared before a Justice of the Peace and Edmonton investigators are still here,” confirmed Langley RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Holly Marks on Monday.
Baumgartner apparently had $330,000 cash with him when he was arrested. However, investigators were unable to locate Baumgartner’s firearm or body armour.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection were alerted to Baumgartner when the licence plate reader found that the plate on his truck, which was his mother’s plate, didn’t match the truck ownership.
According to one woman who was with her young children at the border said the scene of his arrest was “scary.”
In a message via the Abbotsford News facebook page, Candace Litke said six border guards had their guns drawn on him, telling him to get out of his pick up. He apparently laid down on the ground in a puddle, wearing a T-shirt and jeans. He was cuffed and taken away.
He had his own driver’s licence with him but no passport, said border guards.
His mother had pleaded with him to turn himself in after the murders on Friday but clearly Baumgartner was driving straight through to the border.
News of Baumgartner’s arrest has brought some level of solace and relief to the G4S armoured guard family, still in a state of shock on the heels of Friday’s shootings.
“We applaud the dedication of the Edmonton Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies in apprehending Travis Baumgartner today,” said Robin Steinberg of G4S Cash Solutions (Canada). “Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims and also with the Baumgartner family.”
