A 40-year-old Alberta man will spend the next decade behind bars following his guilty plea to manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting at a Yellowhead County tree farm and a dangerous police chase that unfolded in October 2025.
Levi Williamson appeared in Edmonton Court of King's Bench on Wednesday, where he entered guilty pleas to manslaughter with a firearm and fleeing from police in a vehicle. The joint submission from Crown and defence prosecutors resulted in a sentence of nine years for the manslaughter conviction and one year for the fleeing charge, to be served back-to-back.
With 454 days of pre-trial custody already credited toward his sentence, Williamson has approximately eight years remaining to serve.
What Happened at the Tree Farm
Court documents reveal the fatal confrontation occurred on October 7, 2025, when Williamson was confronted during a work break by Robert Brett Macleod, 50, who arrived armed with both a firearm and a hammer.
According to the agreed statement of facts presented to the court, Macleod did not work at the tree farm but was in a relationship with one of Williamson's co-workers. The court heard that Williamson believed Macleod was abusive toward his partner.
During the confrontation, Macleod and Williamson struggled violently over the firearm and hammer. A co-worker who witnessed the incident heard yelling and multiple gunshots as the two men grappled for control of the weapon. Four rounds were discharged during the initial struggle, but none struck either man.
Williamson eventually gained control of the firearm. As Macleod fled the scene unarmed, Williamson fired once more but missed. When Macleod had run approximately 45 metres away, Williamson knelt and fired a final shot that struck Macleod in the right side of his torso. Macleod was seen stumbling before collapsing; he was pronounced dead at approximately 1 p.m.
High-Speed Pursuit and Dangerous Driving
Following the shooting, police initiated a pursuit of Williamson that lasted roughly 60 kilometres. Court heard that Williamson drove at speeds exceeding 180 km/h during the chase and caused a sideswipe collision while attempting to evade officers.
The dangerous driving and flight from police formed the basis of the second charge to which Williamson pleaded guilty. The one-year consecutive sentence reflects the seriousness of putting other drivers and public safety at risk during the high-speed pursuit.
What's Next
Williamson's decade-long sentence marks the conclusion of a case that shocked rural Alberta. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about domestic violence and the tragic consequences that can unfold when confrontations escalate to lethal force.
This article is based on reporting from CBC Edmonton.