Police identify man killed in northeast Calgary shooting as city's 11th homicide victim
There's been an increase in homicides and gun violence this year, say police
A man is dead after a shooting in Saddle Ridge in northeast Calgary late Wednesday, April 20.
Police said this is the 11th homicide in the city since January, marking an increase in both homicides and gun violence since last year.
After an autopsy was performed Thursday morning, Calgary police identified the victim as Hisham Ahmed, 24.
Police said they received multiple calls about gunshots being heard on Saddlecrest Boulevard shortly after 10:30 p.m on Wednesday.
Officers found evidence of a shooting and a man with what appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound, police said in a release.
Police had previously been looking for a dark coloured, 2003 to 2006 GMC Sierra truck with aftermarket headlights and exhaust system that was seen fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting.
But on Saturday, police said they have found the suspect vehicle believed to be involved in the homicide.
The investigation is ongoing, they added.
Last night’s shooting in Saddleridge is a tragedy that impacts everyone. I have family and friends in Saddleridge, and I hear the impacts of this awful violence firsthand. All residents deserve to live in a peaceful society without fearing for their safety. <br>(1/2) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yyc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yyc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yyccc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yyccc</a>
—@RajDhaliwal_YYCCoun. Raj Dhaliwal tweeted on Thursday that the shooting in his district, Ward 5, "is a tragedy that impacts everyone.
"I have family and friends in Saddleridge, and I hear the impacts of this awful violence firsthand. All residents deserve to live in a peaceful society without fearing for their safety."
Anyone with information or who may have seen suspicious activity prior to the shooting is asked to call police or contact Crime Stoppers.
Increase in homicides, say police
The total of 11 homicide cases in the city so far this year is an increase from the same period last year, when there were four homicides between Jan. 1 and April 21.
In a news conference on Thursday, Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson said he "can't give any reason" as to why there has been an increase of homicides this year.
"These numbers fluctuate from year to year and it's difficult to determine exactly why we see homicides occurring as they do," said Gregson.
"Calgary continues to be a safe city and we're continuing to put all our resources toward suppressing the gang activity and working with our organized crime unit and other crime prevention."
Police confirmed there have been 53 reported shootings so far in 2022.
Seven out of the 11 homicide cases in Calgary this year were the result of a shooting, said Gregson.
"Approximately 75 per cent of our shootings have motivations that we attribute to drugs, road rage incidents, accidental discharge," said Insp. Jodi Gach.
"The ones that are organized crime related are tied to targeted shootings, where the motivations are drug related and conflict between opposing groups."
Gach added that gun crime is being addressed by multiple areas within the police service though investigations, enforcement and suppression.
"This is a community issue. It causes us just as much as concern as it does community," she said.
"We too have members living in community, and we're asking for help from family, friends and loved ones to ensure that those walking around illegally carrying firearms are not traumatizing victims that are in our community."