Alleged Lethbridge hostage taker now also faces firearm charges

UPDATE: On Sept.5, 2023, Courtney Louise Shaw was handed a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 11 offences, including aggravated assault, taking a hostage, unlawful confinement and pointing a firearm.

A 40-year-old woman charged with attempted murder in July after a staff member was held hostage at a non-profit organization in Lethbridge, Alta., now faces firearm charges as well, police said Wednesday.

On July 15, Courtney Louise Shawof Lethbridgewascharged with one count of attempted murderalong with multiple other counts, including using an imitation firearm while committing an offence.

The Lethbridge Police Service said in a release it hasnow determined thatan airsoft handgun seized at the scene meets the definition of a firearm based on how fast it releases ammunition.

Charges against Shaw have been amended to include counts of pointing a firearm and assault with a firearm.

Police said four employees were working atLethbridge Legal Guidance onJuly 14 when a woman entered and asked to speak to a specific lawyer.

When she was told the lawyer was not available, she asked to use the washroom, police said. After approximately 10 minutes, she came out and pointed a black handgun at two of the employees and threatened to kill them, according to police.

The woman then allegedly produced a knife and threatened to kill the employees if they did not get the specific lawyer on the phone.

The woman thenforced a 54-year-old woman into an office and closed the door, after which the remaining three employees escaped, police said.

The police tactical team and crisis negotiatorswere deployed. Police said they negotiated with the subject for around an hour. The tactical team then entered the building, where they found the subject holding a knife to herself, according to the release.

The subject was taken into custodyandtreated on scene, later receivingstitches for lacerations to her hand.

Police said the victim was stabbed in the neck multiple times. She was takento hospital and stabilized before undergoing surgery. She has since been released and is recovering, policesaid Wednesday.

Shaw has been charged with the following:

• Attempted murder.
• Aggravated assault.
• Taking a hostage.
• Assault with a weapon (knife).
• Two counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.
• Four counts of unlawful confinement.
• Four counts of uttering threats.
• Four counts of pointing a firearm.
• Fourcounts of assault with a weapon (firearm).

Shaw's next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 1.