1 dead in shooting in northeast Calgary, police link uptick in violence to organized crime

Calgary police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead and two more in life-threatening condition in the city's northeast community of Marlborough Park on Monday afternoon. 

The incident marks the fifth shooting in five days in the city. 

Police say they received reports of a shooting that occurred in a parking lot at the Trans Canada Centre, located in the 1400 block of 52nd Street N.E., at approximately 2 p.m. on Nov. 13.

When they arrived at the scene, officers found a deceased man along with two other victims, a man and a woman. 

EMS said the two people injured were in life-threatening condition, and that they were taken to hospital. In a later release, police said their condition had been upgraded to stable. 

While police say there is no further threat to public safety, investigators are currently searching for suspects, as it is believed the offenders fled the scene in a black truck prior to police arrival. 

Police said they have recovered the suspected vehicle, and are asking the public for any dashcam footage recorded in the area around the time of the shooting. 

Speaking to the media on Monday, Calgary police confirmed that several of the city's recent shootings were targeted events, and that they had the "hallmarks" of organized crime. 

"It is not common that we would see this many days in a row with this spate of violence," said Supt. Cory Dayley. 

"Organized crime-related violence is often difficult to solve, due to the lack of cooperation from those involved, and the extra steps taken by offenders to plan these acts, conceal their identity and dispose of evidence." 

Dayley added that the fluidity of organized crime-related conflict, and the fast-changing motives and allegiances of perpetrators, pose further challenges to investigators. He said that it is too early to tell whether any of the five shootings are connected. 

In a separate incident, police confirmed to CBC News that earlier Monday they received reports that a man suffering from a gunshot wound was dropped off at Foothills hospital. Investigators are not yet sure where the shooting occurred, but police believe the man was transported to hospital after being seen at a residence located in the city's northwest neighbourhood of Bowness. 

On Sunday, Nov. 12, police said they were investigating after shots were fired in the early morning hours in MacEwan Glen in northwest Calgary. 

Two homes were hit with gunfire just after 2 a.m., which police speculate was caused by an exchange of shots between people riding in two cars. 

Police were unable to confirm if anyone had been hit. 

On Saturday, multiple robbers broke into a home in the northeast community of Abbeydale. At the time, it was occupied by five adults and two children. 

Police believe two of the adults were assaulted by the intruders, who demanded money and other items before fleeing the residence and firing shots outside, which struck neighbouring homes. 

The two adults who were allegedly assaulted suffered significant injuries and required treatment in hospital. 

That investigation remains ongoing, as police search for what they believe to be three or four people involved. 

On Thursday, Nov. 9, at approximately 11:50 p.m., police say they were called to the northeast community of Marlborough for reports of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers said they located one person who appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds in a vehicle that had been involved in a collision. This person, along with two others, were taken to hospital. 

Police said the incident was targeted, and that their investigation is still ongoing. 

Coun. Andre Chabot of Ward 10, which encompasses Marlborough, Marlborough Park and Abbeydale, where three of the five shootings occurred, said the events had hit close to home. 

"[Our] residents have been concerned for some time about safety and security in this area, primarily in relation to transit. So now this has now gone beyond just transit and it's reaching out into the very heart of the communities." 

"I'm equally concerned, which is why I remain actively in pursuit of finding a solution and working closely with the Calgary police to see if there's any additional resources that the city can provide to help them, assist them in any way to put an end to this gun violence."

Dayley said that increased access to guns could be one reason for the latest uptick in violence. 

He said that this year alone, police have seized 375 guns in the city, including almost 90 firearms from organized crime offenders.