The parents of Travis Baumgartner, accused of killing three of his co-workers and injuring another in an armoured car robbery at the University of Alberta, say their son's alleged crime has left them "heartbroken."
"There is not even words to say how sorry we are for what has happened to these victims, and the families that are involved," Baumgartner's sobbing mother, Sandy Baumgartner, told CTV Edmonton. "If we could take it back, if there was anything that could be done, we would."
Baumgartner's father, who did not want to give his first name or appear on camera, said: "We ourselves are heartbroken and truly devastated."
Police allege Baumgartner, 21, was part of a crew of five guards with the security company G4S who were re-loading an ATM machine at the University of Alberta's Edmonton campus early Friday morning, when the robbery took place. Four of the guards were shot.
Three of them -- Eddie Rejano, 39, Michelle Shegelski, 26, and Brian Ilesic, 35 -- died of their injuries. The fourth guard, Matthew Schuman, remains in critical condition.
"I have no words鈥here is no comprehension for this act," Sandy Baumgartner said through tears.
Baumgartner was arrested Saturday afternoon as he tried to cross the border into Lynden, Washington south of Abbotsford, B.C.
Police say Baumgartner was trying to cross the border using only his Alberta driver's licence. That wouldn't have been enough to get him across the border, even if the automatic licence plate scanners hadn't already alerted border and immigration officials that an "armed and dangerous" fugitive was approaching.
Baumgartner was pulled from the pickup truck and arrested without incident, however, as officials said he was both co-operative and unarmed. He was found to have been carrying a backpack stuffed with more than $300,000 in cash.
He was arrested on Canada-wide warrants for three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and four counts of armed robbery.
Baumgartner's mother, who issued an emotional plea for his return when he was still at large, said her son had wanted to join the police force.
"This is what's so insane about this... a week before this happened, he actually emailed me an application for the city police for me to print off and bring home," she told CTV Edmonton.
"He actually had it half filled out鈥nd this all happened."
Baumgartner is being held in custody in Langely, B.C., where appeared in court to answer to the warrants Sunday evening. Some time later this week, he is expected to be transferred back to Edmonton where he will be formally charged.
At a news conference Monday, Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht expressed his sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victims who were killed "in so shocking and brutal a fashion" during the armoured car robbery.
"Our investigators have described the scene as one of unimaginable carnage," Knecht added, promising to personally visit each of the victims' families this week.
In the meantime, Edmonton Police Supt. Bob Hassel said Baumgartner has been co-operating with police since he was arrested on Saturday.
"Based on this we are concluding various investigative tasks," Hassel told reporters, explaining that most of the suspect's belongings have been accounted for -- aside from the weapon or body armour they believe he used in the deadly shooting Friday.
"We still have not located either of these," Hassel said.
He expressed hope that Baumgartner would be back in Edmonton to appear in a provincial court by Wednesday.
Sandy Baumgartner said she will be in court to support her only child.
"He's my son and I love him."
With a report from CTV Edmonton's David Ewasuk
