Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jan 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Note: names mentioned
Author: Clara Ho
Page: A6

POLICE PROBE LINKS IN THREE SHOOTINGS

Investigators Believe Incidents Are Related to 'Friction' Between Gangs

Calgary police are investigating possible links in three recent 
shootings believed to be tied to "friction" among criminal groups, 
and have laid charges and seized drugs and weapons in two of those cases.

"The nature, context and most importantly, the interconnectivity 
between them, is something we're actively looking at," said Sgt. 
Jason Walker of the guns and gangs unit on Friday.

"We do believe some of these subjects are tied to organized crime, 
specifically the drug trade - a variety of drugs out there - and some 
of this violence is tied to friction between some of these loosely 
associated groups out there."

Walker told reporters the first incident unfolded on Oct. 5 at 
approximately 11 p.m. in the city's east end, when several brawlers 
were tossed out of Mr. Schnapps Restaurant and Bar in the 1400 block 
of 52nd Street N.E.

As the two groups continued arguing outside, one of the men pulled 
out a handgun and fired several shots toward the rival group and the 
bar, shattering the window.

"One man was shot in the foot, while several others inside the bar 
sought cover from other rounds that breached the establishment's 
exterior," Walker said. "At least one patron received minor injuries 
from flying glass."

Shortly after the shooting, police issued a warrant for the arrest of 
Ramin Dadkhuda, 26, of Calgary. He was taken into custody at the end 
of October and charged with multiple weapons offences and two counts 
of aggravated assault.

Then at around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, police received a complaint of a 
drive-by shooting in the 700 block of Rundleside Drive N.E. in the 
northeast community of Rundle.

Several people were home at the time, but no one was hurt.

Two days later, a search warrant was executed in the 7000 block of 
80th Avenue N.E. where officers removed a loaded handgun with a 
defaced serial number, more than $35,000 in cash, approximately 
$27,000 of Oxycodone, and about $1,000 of cocaine.

Abdullah Amer, 20, and Azad Ahmed Haji, 28, both of Calgary, were 
arrested in relation to these warrants, and charged with multiple 
firearms-related offences, possession and trafficking of a controlled 
substance, possession of property obtained by crime, and multiple 
counts of breach in conditions.

Walker says police are investigating possible links between these two 
shootings and one near a busy northeast grocery store on Jan. 14 at 
around 7:30 p.m.

In that incident, two people were in a vehicle in the parking lot of 
the Calgary Co-op gas bar on 52nd Street when someone fired at the 
vehicle with a rifle.

The 24-year-old male driver sustained wounds to his arm and managed 
to drive himself to hospital, where he was treated and later 
released. His passenger was not hurt.

At least one stray bullet flew through the front window of the nearby 
Co-op grocery store with many shoppers inside.

No arrests have been made in that case.

Walker says a fourth and unrelated shooting has also resulted in an 
attempted murder charge being laid.

Two groups of men arranged to meet in the 6700 block of 26th Avenue 
N.E. at around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23.

"As their two cars pulled up beside one another, shots were fired 
from one vehicle into the other," Walker said. "The driver of the 
targeted vehicle was shot in the face while offenders fled the area 
in the second car."

Three days later, the suspect turned himself into police.

Amaninder Singh, 22, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated 
assault, five counts of failing to comply, and multiple firearms offences.

Walker said Calgary, as a city of 1.2 million, is not immune to this 
type of violence and organized crime.

"The reality is this: Calgary gets the organized criminal presence 
that it deserves. In a sense, they're only here because they sell 
commodities and services, and there are Calgarians out there buying 
this stuff up," he said.

"If I could wave a magic wand and take away Calgary's appetite for 
illicit substances and services, we would cripple organized crime."

He said gang violence is always a concern, but the police service is 
much better prepared than it was a decade ago, with the 
implementation of the real-time operations centre, and the 
guns-and-gangs unit as well as more experience to deal with this type 
of criminal activity.

"We are so much better prepared now to employ strategies and tactics 
based on our own experience to move forward."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom