Security guard dead after gunshot call at central Edmonton apartment building

Homicide detectives are investigating after a 20-year-old man working as a security guard was fatally injured inside a central Edmonton apartment building early Friday.

Police say the man was found unresponsive in a stairwell after officers were called to respond to a gunshot inside the building at 106th Street and 107th Avenue in the Central McDougall neighbourhood.

The man was found after police arrived at the scene around 12:30 a.m.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. 

Homicide section detectives have taken over the investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about the death to contact them. 

Police remained at the scene Friday afternoon.

Yellow crime tape lined the sidewalk outside the four-storey building. A pool of blood stained the beige tiles of the foyer inside. 

Jessica Moradkhan, who lives in the building, said she didn't hear the gunshot but was out on the sidewalk having a cigarette about 20 minutes before the police were called to the scene.

She said a security guard from the apartment building joined her outside as a fight broke out on the street.

She said one of the men involved in the fight asked to come inside to make a police report and followed the guard into the building.

Moradkhan said her roommate called her minutes later to warn her that a shot had been fired in the building and that the security guard had been injured in the hall.

Moradkhan said security issues at the building are frequent and it doesn't always feel safe.

"He was a nice guy," she said. "He held the door open for me."

She said it's disturbing to know of the violence that occurred steps from her home.

"It's traumatizing. It just goes to show that you're here one minute, and gone the next. I feel bad for his family," Moradkhan said

"He was a young guy who didn't deserve that."