Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jul 2015
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Otiena Ellwand
Page: A6

'SUBCULTURE OF GANGS AND DRUGS BEHIND HOME INVASIONS': POLICE

Man, 32, Shot in Northeast Back Yard

A 32-year-old man was shot in northeast Edmonton Friday morning in 
the 11th targeted home invasion this month.

Police are now trying to determine if the home invasion and shooting 
are related to multiple reports of gunshots heard nearby around the same time.

Police were called to a townhouse at 184 Habitat Crescent in the 
Homesteader neighbourhood just before 6 a.m. after three men 
allegedly shot a man in his backyard and then fled the scene. There 
were four or five people inside the home at the time, police said.

The man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 
Police are still looking for the three suspects.

Police believe this was a "targeted" incident.

"It's certainly not random by any means. The individual is in 
hospital. He is expected to survive; however we're obviously very 
concerned given that there were shots fired in the neighbourhood," 
Insp. Regan James said at the scene.

A home invasion involves suspects breaking into a home using violence 
or threats of violence to steal property while the occupants are present.

There have been about 60 home invasions so far this year. On average, 
there are about eight home invasions per month in Edmonton, though 
police say it's difficult to track exact numbers because a home 
invasion may be categorized as a personal robbery, break and enter or 
weapons complaint.

"These home invasions, they're unfolding for reasons that are 
happening below the surface, in the subculture of gangs and drugs," 
said police spokesman Sgt. Steve Sharpe. While there has been an 
increase in home invasions this July, Sharpe said this should not 
panic the public.

Random home invasions are extremely rare. However, there have been 
some occasions where suspects accidentally target the wrong address.

"For your average Edmontonian, who goes about their business and 
their daily routines, they shouldn't have to fear this level of 
violence happening to them," Sharpe said. "In a lot of these cases, 
the violence is done at close range, in closed quarters quite often. 
They're happening based on some motivating factors."

Still, they do leave some people in the neighbourhood rattled.

Savita Narayan, 70, said she woke up just after 6 a.m. Friday and 
heard banging in the townhouse next door. She was unsure if it was 
just the two little girls who live there playing, or something more. 
When she looked out the window, she saw several police holding guns.

Police later told her the front passenger window of her vehicle had 
been smashed and she shouldn't go in her backyard until they examined it.

Narayan believes the suspects may have jumped a low fence into her 
backyard because pots full of tomato and marigold plants had been knocked over.

"I'm scared now. I could have been shot this morning if I was 
outside," said Narayan, who regularly wakes up early to work in her garden.

Narayan said a couple of women, a man and two girls live next door. 
They've been renting the townhouse for about two years, she said.

While police were investigating the home invasion, several calls came 
in about multiple gunshots heard around 47th Street and 118th Avenue 
within an hour, about three kilometres south of the initial shooting.

James said police have not located any other shooting victims or 
found any rounds.

At the same time, police were called to assist paramedics at a third 
incident, a report of a driver who appeared to be impaired inside a 
black Volkswagen Jetta at 47th Street and 119th Avenue.

The man was taken to hospital, but he was not injured, James said.

"He seems to be under the influence of some kind of drug," he said.

"There's really no clarity as to whether it's related or not."

Police do not know if there are connections between all or any of the incidents.
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