Family of teen shot dead in residential Calgary community issues another plea for information

Calgary police and the family of a Grade 10 student shot dead last week issued another plea for information on Monday. 

Jal Acor Jal, 16, was found dead in the northwest Calgary community of Arbour Lake on Thursday. Police are investigating his death as a homicide. 

Jal's death was one of three fatal shootings in Calgary last week — Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson said at a press conference Monday that the three deaths are not believed to be connected. 

"To lose someone at the young age of 16 is both shocking and tragic," said Gregson. He told media on Monday that Jal's death is not believed to be random. 

"But we're looking at everything and exploring all avenues." 

Police are looking for any information, including suspicious activity Thursday night between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the 100 block of Arbour Meadows Close, the 200 block of Schubert Place, and the 100 to 200 blocks of Scenic View Close N.W. 

Gregson asked people living in those areas to watch for anything suspicious or that may have been discarded, and to save dashcam and doorbell camera footage from that time. 

Jal was in Grade 10 at St. Francis High School, where he played on both the basketball and football teams. Akeir Kuol, his aunt, said his death has "broken so many hearts." 

"No one is ever prepared to lose a 16-year-old," said Kuol.

"We cannot do it by ourselves, we need your help. We need your voice. We are pleading with the Arbour Meadows community or Arbour Lake community.… If anyone has seen anything, if you have heard anything, please come forward," she said. 

Police are still canvassing that area.

Meanwhile, officers are investigating two other recent shooting deaths in the city. 

On Friday evening, a man in his 20s died following a shooting in Crescent Heights. Earlier that day, another man was fatally shot in the community of Radisson Heights.