Calgarian recounts shooting outside his home that left him paralyzed
Nick Langridge is recovering in a Calgary hospital after being shot in the back while confronting a stranger near his southeast home last month.
Langridge says he was getting ready for bed in the early morning hours of July 4 when he heard a loud bang from a transformer and the power went out inside his residence in the Oasis Mobile Home Park.
"I went outside just to see if anything was up," recounted Langridge, "Shortly after, the suspect came into the alleyway and entered the trailer park."
Langridge says there was a second loud bang in the nearby intersection before he saw the man. His initial thought was the man, who he did not recognize from the trailer park, was car prowling as it was 4 a.m.
Langridge confronted the man and the man took off. A foot chase ensued and Langridge quickly gained ground.
"I caught up to him and grabbed him by the back. Before I could even stop and turn around, he must have had his hand on the gun already, took that first shot and hit me in the spine."
The shooting victim was transported by ambulance from the 2100 block of 50th Street S.E to the Foothills Medical Centre in critical condition.
The suspect was located on scene and, according to police, transported to hospital for treatment of his own gunshot wound. Investigators say the confrontation between Langridge and the suspect occurred a short time after a single vehicle crash in the vicinity that occurred after officers spotted a vehicle speeding near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street S.E. and elected not to pursue due to the dangerous nature of the driving.
Jason Marc Leduc, 19, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder as well as drug, dangerous driving and firearms-related charges. Leduc also faces charges in connection with a December 2020 shooting in the southeast neighbourhood of Cranston that left a man critically injured.
Langridge is now paralyzed from the waist down. He has four cracked vertebrae and it appears that he will have permanent paralysis.
"Its something that I’ve been dealing with alright. My oldest brother Mike is in an electric wheel chair, he’s been a huge mental support through this, just knowing that people can undergo these situations and still carry on to live a very positive life."
Langridge is staying positive through his recovery and plans to live his life the way he had before, with a goal of returning to being self-employed as a commercial flooring installer.
"That’s my plan, I want to get back to work, keep paying my bills myself. Get my van converted so I can keep driving, keep living my life how I was essentially."
Langridge's home needs massive renovations to make it more accessible for him and a GoFundMe campaign has been started to help ease some of the financial stress.
"My brother did set up a GoFundMe and I definitely have to express my gratitude to everybody that’s taken part in that, I can't believe the generosity, honestly."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.