Prince George, B.C. – Police in the Edmonton area are mounting a massive manhunt following the shooting of two RCMP officers in the community of St. Albert, just to the northwest of the capital.

The two officers were shot on the job around 3 this morning while conducting an investigation near the Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club.  At last word the officers were being worked on in hospital while the suspect, said to be armed and dangerous, is still on the loose.

Police have just held a news conference in St. Albert. They say the officers were shot inside a casino in St. Albert while investigating a stolen automobile complaint.  One of the officers is said to be in very grave condition while the other is listed as serious but stable. A police spokesman says it is not believed the officers managed to return gunfire following the shooting.

Police are looking for a white male aged 25 to 35 years, wearing a two-tone blue striped jacket and blue jeans. The suspect fled the scene after the shooting and police are advising the public to avoid the area southeast of the golf course. They say officers are in that area, believing it is a possible location of the suspect.

The names of the police officers, both members of the St. Albert RCMP detachment, are not being released at this time. Police say they believe they know the type of gun used in the shooting but are not releasing that information. They also are not describing the wounds suffered by the two officers.