Killing of Edmonton man two years ago a 'case of mistaken identity,' police say
The family of a man who was gunned down on a north Edmonton street two years ago still doesn't know who killed him.
Gherezghiher Yemane, 63, also known as Gary, was shot while walking near his home on Ozerna Road, between 69th Street and 165th Avenue, on May 27, 2016. A black Dodge Charger approached him and the person who got out of the vehicle shot him several times.
Yemane's wife and daughter were joined by Edmonton police at a news conference at the site of the murder Friday afternoon, two days before the two-year anniversary of Yemane's death.
Staff Sgt. Bill Clark said Yemane didn't have any enemies, and the killing was a random act of violence.
"That car simply drove by here, saw Gary walking, [and the killer] got out and shot him multiple times," Clark said. "There was absolutely no reason for this man to be murdered."
Police don't think Yemane was the intended target of the attack.
"We do believe from the information we have through our investigation to date that this was a case of mistaken identity," Clark said.
Still looking for witnesses
Police emphasized that a $40,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the murder is still available. Now, the Yemane family has offered to match that reward.
But Clark stressed that the money will be given only to a witness willing to make a statement in court. He said he knows there are witnesses out there.
"There were specific persons in that vehicle at the time of the offence who watched it all happen. So they can put a statement to us which will help us convict this individual," Clark said.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Yemane's daughter, Winta Berhane, said she wants her father's killer to be brought to justice.
"We are troubled trying to understand and grasp what happened to our father," said Berhane, who is the youngest of Yemane's three children. "It's unfathomable that his life has been taken away so violently."
A beloved father
Berhane described her father as family man and humanitarian loved by many. She said more than 1,200 people attended his funeral.
"Our dad has made a lot of sacrifices for our family, but has always remembered to teach us love, compassion, work ethic and was the greatest role model you can ask for," she said.
"He believed in treating others with respect and they will treat you with respect. He believed in doing the right thing."
Yemane worked as a nurse in Edmonton for 30 years after immigrating to Canada from Eritrea, Africa.
"[He] left a war-torn country to come back here," Berhane said. "To get murdered on a street going for a walk, it doesn't make any sense."
