Calgary shooting: No charges yet in Abdullahi Ahmed's New Year's Day death
Police say they do not have enough evidence to charge the man that they had considered a suspect in the New Year's Day shooting death of 27-year-old Abdullahi Ahmed.
The 28-year-old is still being held on unrelated charges, and police say the investigation is underway.
The man was taken into custody by police from a house in southwest Calgary on Thursday night.
"At the same time, two search warrants were executed at homes in southwest Calgary," Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm told reporters Friday night.
The man faces a number of charges stemming from incidents in Fort McMurray and Bonnyville, including cocaine trafficking, possession of stolen property and weapons offences. He was also convicted of motor vehicle theft and impaired driving, court records show.
Currently he is accused of violating his bail conditions by breaking curfew and possessing a cellphone. It is alleged he was out past his curfew on Jan.1, the day Ahmed was killed at a house party.
Police say the man they questioned was an invited guest at the same gathering, but did not reside in Calgary on a "long-standing basis."
The shooting happened in the 1900 block of 36th Street S.W. in the community of Killarney just after 5 a.m. MT on Jan. 1.
"The search and collection of evidence where the shooting occurred has been completed. A significant amount of CCTV surveillance footage has been collected and we are still currently reviewing that footage," said Chisholm.
Witnesses still needed to come forward
Police believe the shooting was targeted and stemmed from an altercation at the party, but a motive and the exact sequence of events have not been determined.
Six others were injured in the incident, including one person who was just driving past the residence.
Police are thanking witnesses at the New Year's Eve party for coming forward to help with the investigation, but say they still need more information. They say fewer than half the partygoers have spoken to police.
"There were over 50 people at that party. There's definitely more individuals that saw more details who have not come forward to provide the necessary evidence that we require to lay a charge," said Chisholm.
Police encourage anyone with information to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Calgary Crime Stoppers.
Toronto and Edmonton police were also brought in to provide background on guests believed to have been at the party.
"We won't stop until this investigation is solved," said Chisholm. "This is a huge public safety issue where you have seven people shot."
Less than 24 hours after the New Year's shooting, another young man named Murat Omar was found dead in an alley in northwest Calgary. Police discovered the 23-year-old's body after responding to reports of gunfire.
Calgary police say while the two incidents are believed to be targeted attacks, they do not believe they are connected.
Somali community gathers
Omar and Ahmed are just two of more than 40 young Somali-Canadians who have died in recent years in Alberta.
Ahmed's family says they are still hoping to see charges laid.
"Of course we want justice," said his cousin Ahmed Mohammed.
"We don't want, you know, other people to get involved and hurt by this individual because ... if he wasn't the target that means some other individual was the target. That means another life that's in danger as we are speaking right now."
In the days following the shooting, police issued a public plea to leaders within the Somali community.
"We will do whatever it takes to put this thing to an end and to further integrate the community into the greater society of Canada," said Imam Abdi Hersy. "These youngsters dying are Canadians."
Calgary's police chief plans to meet with members of the Somali community on Saturday night. It's part of an effort to curb the recent violence and build relationships.
