Police investigate 3rd shooting in 2 weeks on Penny Drive

Above: a map of recent shootings in Ottawa's west end. Locations are approximate.

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Residents on Penny Drive say they're scared and frustrated after the third shooting in that area in just two weeks.

Police were called Wednesday at 8:13 p.m. after multiple gunshots were heard in the area of the 2000 block of Penny Drive, in an Ottawa Community Housing neighbourhood called Michele Heights.

Investigators found evidence of multiple bullets — two hit a van, one hit a car and one hit a residence — but residents told CBC News they heard anywhere from five to seven shots.

No one was in the van or the car but people were inside the residence that was shot at. No one was injured.

'We thought we were going to get shot, too'

A woman and her daughter had been taking pictures of freshly fallen snow when the shots rang out. They were close enough that the mother smelled the gunpowder. She slipped, her daughter helped her up and they ran back to their home.

They spoke to CBC News on the condition that they remain anonymous.

"We were taking pictures because the view of the snow was beautiful, so we thought, let's take pictures. And then we heard the gunshots," the daughter said. "I was scared. I didn't know what to do. We thought we were going to get shot, too. ... I couldn't stop shaking because of it."

The daughter said she will no longer be attending a nearby program that helps local children. The program happens from 5 to 8 p.m. and she said she's too afraid to walk after the shootings in her neighbourhood.

"It's very scary. I can't go. I am too scared to do that now. ... It's unsafe," she said.

"We want to move from here. We don't like it, we don't like it at all. It's very unsafe. People, guys, they drink, they smoke, it's unsafe here for me and my brother and my mom."

'Absolutely nothing has been done and it's only getting worse'

Azad Abdulaziz was putting his young daughters to bed when he heard the gunshots. He said the latest incidents have him concerned about their safety.

"You're always full of fear," he said.

Last Thursday, two men were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after people heard multiple gunshots on the same block of Penny Drive.

Two weeks ago, police say shots were fired into a home on the same street. Four children playing inside the room a bullet was fired into, but again, no one was hurt.

"We've been here for about two years now," Abdulaziz said.

"We've heard they're going to protect the community and clean it up better but absolutely nothing has been done and it's only getting worse."

The guns and gangs unit is investigating. The Wednesday night shooting is the 45th shooting in Ottawa this year, which is already 15 more than the total reported in 2013.

Ottawa police are asking anyone with information on any of these shootings to contact them at 613-236-1222, ext. 5050, or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477(TIPS), toll free at 1-800-222-8477.