CANMORE – A 27-year-old Canmore resident is now facing attempted murder charges after he a shootout with an RCMP officer in February.
The RCMP’s Southern Alberta District General Investigation Section laid multiple additional charges on Austin Desylva Wednesday (March 15).
In addition to the attempted murder charge, Desylva is also facing charges of discharging a firearm with intent, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, possession of a firearm or weapon that’s contrary to a prohibition order, and flight from a peace officer as well as several other weapons- and drug-related charges.
Desylva was charged Feb. 26 with aggravated assault of a peace officer and discharge of a firearm with intent after a police search took place in the Larch area of Canmore.
Desylva was shot and taken to Canmore General Hospital, and then transported via STARS air ambulance to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary with serious injuries.
Desylva was previously charged with unlawful possession of a firearm Feb. 4 stemming from a December, 2022, incident.
The investigation was coordinated between Banff RCMP and Canmore RCMP, with RCMP’s emergency response team executing a search warrant at a Silvertip home.
Desylva was charged with pointing a firearm, 20 counts of weapons offences, possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance and possession of property from a crime.
Police said Desylva remains in custody and is set to appear at Canmore provincial court on March 29.
