Calgary man identified as shooting victim

The man shot and killed Monday near a Tim Hortons coffee shop in Calgary's southwest has been identified as Efrem Mehari Kuflom, 30, of Calgary.

His shooting was "likely not a random incident," the Calgary Police Service said in a news release.

"The preliminary investigation indicates the shooting may be drug-related. However, the investigation is continuing."

Meanwhile, Calgary police are searching for a young man who was seen running from the scene of the shooting just before noon Monday.

The man is described as being dark-skinned, in his early to mid-20s and wearing a hooded jacket, police said.

Witnesses said a black car with tinted windows was pulling out of the laneway behind the Tim Hortons on 12th Avenue at 11th Street S.W. when a man on foot took out a gun and opened fire on the vehicle.

After the shooting, the car rolled across the intersection and through a fence.

Anyone with information is requested to contact the homicide unit at (403) 206-8685 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.

Residents concerned

The violence taking place in broad daylight has nearby residents increasingly concerned about crime in their community.

Deborah Day has lived a block away from Monday’s shooting for the past 10 years. In that time, she said, she’s learned that drug deals are done in alleys nearly every day, and cars are broken into regularly.

But the homicide has shaken her up.

"You can't presume that your neighbourhoods are safe anymore. You don’t want to be afraid, you don’t want to be thinking that you can’t go out and carry on normal life," Day said.

Nader Woanis, who immigrated to Calgary from Egypt a year ago, said his car was broken into in the alley behind his apartment shortly before the shooting happened a few steps away.

There are a lot of homeless people in the neighbourhood, he said, but the shooting is a shock.

"This area is quiet — not crowded, not noisy. But I’m surprised about that. This is a first time, to murder or something like that," Woanis said.

Sidney Gilbert walked by the scene of the crime on her way to work at a nearby art gallery. She said it’s unnerving to see such a crime happen in the middle of the day in a residential area.

"Our small city is getting quite big in all the wrong ways. It’s not very pleasant; it’s very unnerving," Gilbert said.