Survives bullet to neck
By TAMAS VIRAG, SUN MEDIA
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Police found the bloodied man, believed to be in his early 20s, in a white Subaru Legacy shortly before 6:40 a.m. at the intersection of Groat Road and 118 Avenue.
He was listed in stable condition last night.
The victim was the fifth Somali man from Ontario to be shot in Edmonton and area in the past three months - and he's the only one to survive.
Last night, Somali leaders proceeded with a pre-planned meeting to discuss how violence against its community members can be combated.
Today, the Somali community is scheduled to meet with police Chief Mike Boyd, as cops continue probing yesterday's shooting,
"The investigators are still trying to determine if the victim was shot in the vehicle, at the same location where the vehicle was located or if he was shot at a different location and arrived at the point where the vehicle was found," said city police spokesman Dean Parthenis.
He could not say whether a nearby apartment building at 12940 118 Ave. - which, for hours following the shooting was filled with heavily armed cops and surrounded by yellow tape - was the site of the shooting.
"They were checking out a possible lead. I believe they were looking for a suspect and it didn't work out. No suspect was located," Parthenis said.
Cops say the latest Somali shooting victim, who recently moved to Edmonton from Ontario, was known to the gang unit. Some of the other Somali men killed in recent months also had gang- and drug-related charges.
On Dec. 2, Adul Kadir Mohamoud was found lying dead in a field near 109 Street and 130 Avenue. Later that night, police were called to 148 Avenue and 89 Street, where they found Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman.
On Aug. 24, Mohamed Ali Ibrahim was shot and killed outside the River Cree Resort. A month later, 22-year-old Nasir Mohamed Said was found dead behind Balwin school. And on Halloween morning, 21-year-old Abas Akubar's body was discovered near 140 Avenue and 92 Street.
Yesterday's shooting left some feeling frightened.
"It's very shocking," said Mustafa Ducleh, manager of a Somali restaurant only metres away from where the man was found.
"We're worried, for sure."
Mahamad Accord, executive director of the Alberta Somali Canadian Centre and outspoken critic of how police are handling the shootings, says authorities need to do more to stop his fellow countrymen from ending up in hospitals and morgues.
"(Chief Mike Boyd) promised that he will do whatever he has in his disposal," Accord said, adding, "We'd like to believe him, but history tells us otherwise."
At a meeting last night, a Somali community official disputed claims by police that the victims' were involved in illegal activity.
"We never had one shred of evidence that show that these killings are related to drugs or the gangs," said Accord. "They are disseminating misinformation."
Accord added he doesn't know why these men are being targeted except that they are vulnerable because of their upbringing.
"There are so many social and economical factors that make them very vulnerable because we are immigrants and they are the second generation. They grow up here, they are a product of Canada. That makes them vulnerable. But people are putting the blame on the adults, making them who they are."
The community meeting last night was planned before the latest victim was gunned down. Accord said the lack of arrests in any of the five recent shootings involving Somali victims is encouraging for those committing the crimes.
"The killers are comfortable doing their business within our community," Accord said, adding the community is paralyzed with the speed of violent events.
"Every time we're trying to address what has happened something else happens that throws us off the focus."
Area residents and workers were shocked to hear of violence in what they described as a usually quiet neighbourhood.
"It doesn't matter where you go, you're going to find it," said Kristy Dreger, who lives in the apartment building between where the man was found and the one police surrounded yesterday morning.
"I'm really starting to consider moving outside of Edmonton. The violence and the crime and the drugs around here, it's just ridiculous," she added.
Source: Sun Media, Dec 17, 2008