26-year-old Abdi Jama dead after being shot multiple times in Carlington
A known gang member has died after being shot multiple times behind a strip mall on Merivale Road in the Carlington area on Sunday morning, Ottawa police confirm.
It's the 13th homicide of 2016, and comes a day after a man was shot and killed on Elmira Drive.
"It's very concerning," said Duty Insp. Sean McDade. "We've obviously seen an increase in gun violence."
Emergency crews responded to reports of multiple shots fired behind a strip mall on Shillington Avenue and Merivale Road just after 6 a.m. but did not find anyone upon arrival.
Minutes later, police were called to the nearby Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre where a man had been dropped off with gunshot wounds, McDade said.
The 26-year-old man had to be transferred to the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus nearly one kilometre away because there is no emergency room at the Royal, McDade said.
Paramedics said the man was in life-threatening condition when he arrived at the hospital. Police confirmed he later died and identified him as Abdi Jama from Ottawa.
Police say he was a known gang member.
No one has been arrested and there are no suspects in the case, police said Sunday morning.
McDade said it was too early to tell if the two fatal shootings this weekend are linked.
Police blocked a large swath of Shillington Avenue with police tape Sunday morning. Neighbours say people hang out around the strip mall, which includes a convenience store and restaurant that is open late.
Police also blocked off a section in front of the Royal, more than one kilometre away from the scene of the shooting. A Cadillac, that had been behind the police tape, was towed from the parking lot of the Royal.
Ottawa police are asking anyone with information about either homicide to contact the major crime unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493.
The scene of the shooting is near the apartment building where Lonnie Leafloor was found dead in May. His death was the city's 7th homicide.
