'Not targeted': Edmonton's latest homicide victim identified as 49-year-old man
Homicide detectives investigating the shooting death of a 49-year-old man in west Edmonton do not believe the victim was the intended target.
Dion William McCallum was found inside a home early Sunday, suffering from a gunshot wound.
He died of his injuries in hospital.
"This incident was not targeted and Mr. McCallum was at home with a family member at the time of the incident," Staff Sgt. Brenda Dalziel said during a news conference Wednesday.
The family member with McCallum was not injured in the shooting, Dalziel said.
Police found McCallum inside after being called to the home near 105th Avenue and 157th Street around 6:15 a.m.
An autopsy Tuesday confirmed he died from the wound and confirmed the case as a homicide.
"It is alarming to find out, through our investigation, to see that this this particular incident, there is no reason for us to believe that Mr. McCallum was targeted at this time," Dalziel said.
"And so for that reason, we hope that members of the Glenwood community will reach out to the police and speak to us with any information they might have from early that morning."
Dalziel urged anyone with surveillance video, such as doorbell cameras or dashcam video, to contact investigators.
She also asked that anyone who saw any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area around 5:45 a.m. Sunday to call police.
She said police don't have any descriptions of a possible suspect or suspects. They're hopeful that public tips can shed light on the case.
"It's quite a quiet community, so on a Sunday morning at 5:45 in the morning, there's really not a lot of activity out here," she said. "And so if anyone saw anything, we'd like them to come forward."
Dalziel said McCallum's death is part of a concerning trend in firearms crime.
Dalziel said Edmonton police investigated 158 shooting events in 2020, 10 of which were fatal.
"Year to date, we've already had eight firearms shooting incidents in the city of Edmonton," she said. "And public safety in the city of Edmonton is the priority."
