A train gate operator was shot and killed in Clarendon on Saturday morning, in an attack that has left the local community shaken. According to local news outlets, Vincent Clarke was on duty at the Gravel Hill railway crossing in Milk River when he was ambushed by gunmen.
Reports say that the men came around 3:20 a.m. when Clarke had just closed the gates after a train had passed through. Two armed men suddenly appeared and reportedly opened fire. Clarke tried to escape with his coworker, but the perpetrators pursued and fatally shot him, while his coworker managed to flee on foot. The gunmen subsequently fled the scene and remain at large.
According to reports, the shooting immediately disrupted train operations since there was no one to operate the gates when the train returned. When police arrived at the scene, Clarke was found some metres from the gate. Police noticed that his wounds appeared to be inflicted by gunshots.
He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. The police have not determined the motive.
The killing of Clarke comes amid a notable shift in violent crime in Clarendon. According to the Serious Crimes Report for January 1 to September 13, 2025, the parish recorded 25 murders and 27 shootings, compared with 56 murders and 49 shootings during the same period in 2024. This represents a decline of 55.4% in murders and 44.9% in shootings locally.
Nationally, murder totals for the same period also fell significantly, from 829 in 2024 to 479 in 2025, marking a 42.2% decrease. While the statistics suggest an overall decline in violent crime, Clarke’s death is a reminder that dangerous incidents continue to occur, affecting both public safety and the operations of critical services like the railway.