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Gunfire erupted in the parking lot of a busy northwest shopping mall Saturday afternoon, killing one man and sending shoppers scrambling for safety.
Police were alerted to shots fired outside the south entrance of Market Mall at about 2:20 p.m. Soon after, the access was closed and customers exiting the premises found their cars behind police tape as paramedics attended to the victim and investigators interviewed witnesses.
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Media reports stated the victim was seated in the driver seat of a black Jeep SUV when the shots were fired. He was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition but later declared deceased.
His identity has not been released and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
A man operating an auto-glass repair tent in the corner of the mall parking lot said he heard three gunshots but didn’t know what happened until police arrived.
“I mostly just saw the aftermath, they were doing CPR on the guy and then they loaded him in the ambulance,” said the man, who didn’t want to be identified.
An employee at Starbucks, who also didn’t wish to be named, said she was confused by the line of police cruisers upon arriving for work and only later learned of the shooting from a colleague.
“Market Mall is one of the safest places for shopping,” she said, adding Saturday’s events had left her feeling nervous.
Calgary police issued a statement Saturday evening, saying they’re looking for a white, 2015-2016 Volvo XC60 and want to speak with the driver.
Staff Sgt. John Guigon said earlier Saturday there’s no indication Saturday’s shooting is linked to another Friday night outside the northeast Deerfoot City shopping centre that left two people injured.
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That shooting occurred shortly after 10:30 p.m. in a parking lot facing The Rec Room.
Guigon added both male victims — an adult and a teenager — suffered injuries that didn’t threaten their lives.
Investigators visited the site and found several shell casings. They have also seized several vehicles police believe may be associated with the offence.
“They’re still processing them, and the forensics is still being completed on the evidence gathered,” Guigon said.
Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.calgarycrimestoppers.org.
With files from Gavin Young
