Saskatoon shooting victim, a newcomer from Iraq, was killed on way home from work

Mark Abram Enwaya moved to Canada to flee violence in his home country, according to posts by his friends on social media.

Enwaya, 31, was shot and killed with a .45-calibre handgun Tuesday night in an alley behind Avenue Q South. People who knew him posted comments on the Saskatoon Police facebook page.

"That guy moved in Canada hoping for a better future and run away from violence in his country," wrote one.

Enwaya worked at the Star Egg distribution centre on Quebec Avenue. CEO Shawn Harman said that Enwaya had moved here from Iraq and began working at Star Egg between four and six months ago.

Harman said that Enwaya was shot about 40 minutes after leaving work. The company learned of the shooting when a family member called the centre that evening wondering why he had not returned home.

"Mark is new to Canada, as far I know he showed up for work, he did his job," Harman said.

"English was a second language for him so communication was potentially an issue. But we didn't think that he had any irregular type of lifestyle."

• Saskatoon police say innocent civilians have been victims in rash of gang-related shootings

Two male teens, aged 15 and 17, are now in custody charged with second-degree murder in relation to Enwaya's death. They appeared in Saskatoon provincial court Thursday and will be back Monday.

Police said Thursday that they are concerned and troubled by shootings in the area around St. Paul's Hospital. Their concern is that the shooters are tied to gangs, and that the victims are not.

There have been two people shot in the area over the past week, not including Enwaya's murder, plus other reports of shots fired with no one hurt.