The Call Came in Just After 5:30 a.m.
RCMP and EMS were called to the Fir Arms apartment complex near Fir Street in Sherwood Park on Friday, May 9 just after 5:30 in the morning.
A man inside the building had serious injuries. Paramedics worked on him at the scene. He didn't make it.
Darren James Currat, 36, was pronounced dead.
The Suspect Lived Down the Hall
Investigators didn't have to look far. Christopher Boyd O'Chiese, 31, was a resident of the same complex. RCMP arrested him roughly five hours after the initial call still the same morning.
He's been charged with second-degree murder and remains in custody. His first court appearance is Monday in St. Albert.
What Investigators Are Saying
The Strathcona County RCMP Major Crimes Unit has taken over the file from the local detachment standard procedure for homicide investigations in the region.
Strathcona County posted a statement on its website Friday confirming a suspect was in custody and that there is no risk to the public.
The county also flagged support resources for residents shaken by the news: 211 Alberta is available 24/7 by phone or text, and Family and Community Services can be reached at 780-464-4044, with walk-in hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m.
What Second-Degree Murder Means
In Canada, murder charges split into two categories based on whether the act was planned in advance.
First-degree murder requires proof the killing was deliberate and premeditated thought out beforehand. Second-degree murder means the act was intentional, but not planned ahead of time. A fight that turns fatal, for example, typically falls into second-degree territory.
Both are life sentences. The difference shows up at parole eligibility: first-degree carries a hard 25-year minimum. Second-degree gives the judge discretion to set that threshold anywhere from 10 to 25 years.
O'Chiese has been charged not convicted. He is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court.
Sources:
Strathcona County community statement, May 9, 2026: strathcona.ca
