Thursday, July 21, 2011
Members of Edmonton's Somali-Canadian community are heralding the arrest of a 22-year-old man in Edmonton's latest homicide.
Ahmed Ismail-Sheikh, 25, died in hospital after several fights early Friday morning left trails of blood in the Inglewood neighbourhood. Paramedics were called to 112th Avenue and 124th Street at about 1: 40 a.m., where they found the man unconscious. It was Edmonton's 29th homicide of the year and the fourth involving a Somali-Canadian man.
"One of the concerns we've always had as a community is that homicide cases have slowly been turning cold," said Ahmed Hussen, national president of the Canadian Somali Congress. "This is a welcome arrest."
Since several homicide investigations have been derailed by uncooperative witnesses, Hussen said the successful investigation will hopefully inspire witnesses of other crimes to talk to police.
Police say the victim and suspect knew each other. Edmonton police spokeswoman Patrycia Thenu said the suspect was involved in a second fight with a 31-year-old man, who had non-life-threatening injuries.
Police arrested Arab Mursal Sugule, 22, Tuesday and charged him with second-degree murder, assault causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon and obstructing a police officer.
Sugule is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday at 9 a.m.