A shooting in the southeast community of Forest Lawn on Saturday night has left one person dead.
Calgary police told Global News , at approximately 9 p.m., two masked men approached an outdoor basketball court located in the 4800 block of 14 Avenue southeast and fired shots before running away from the scene. These courts are located behind the Bob Bahan Aquatic and Fitness Centre.
It was initially reported that three people were in hospital with undetermined injuries.
Global News has learned that one of those people has died. The condition of the other two victims is unknown.
Radha Cropper was at home on Saturday night when she heard what she believed to be fire crackers going off.
“We were in the backyard and my husband went to the garden and looked over…we just saw kids in the court and one of them was laying on the ground,” she said. “He wasn’t moving so I called police and they picked him up and carried him away.”
Cropper moved to the area a year ago and said that Saturday’s events have left her shaken.
“I’m just really scared because we were right here and there could be another one and some civilian could get hurt.”
Her neighbour, Jenene Shouldice, has lived at her home for years and said that when the basketball courts were built, the problems started.
“The people that go to the swimming pool don’t even want to park in the parking lot. There’s been fights back there… our cars have been vandalized.”
Shouldice would like to see the courts removed.
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“I came home to this and I’m waking up to it, I’m not happy.”
Police said there were numerous witnesses to the event and they do not believe there is any risk to the public.
When paramedics arrived on scene, the victims had already been transported to hospital in a private vehicle.
The shooting came one day after a 46-year-old man died after a stabbing at the City Hall CTrain station on Friday evening. The victim has been identified as Nicholas Ozoechi Nwonye.
READ MORE: Man dies after stabbing at Calgary City Hall LRT station
Calgary’s mayor said despite the violent weekend in Calgary, the city remains very safe.
“One of the safest places in the world and still much safer than it was when I was growing up generation ago,” Naheed Nenshi said. “That said, we have to work together as a community to ensure everyone’s safety. My colleagues in the Calgary Police Service do good work every day. I’ve seen a huge decline in guns and gang-related violence thanks to their great work.
“But much more work remains to be done, and we are still seeing targeted acts that put innocent people at risk. These guys are scum balls, they should not be doing this. It puts innocent people at risk and we’re going to put them away,” Nensh said.
Police said Friday’s stabbing was random.
“The City Hall platform stabbing was, of course, as frightening because it was a random act by a very, very disturbed individual,” Nenshi said on Sunday. “There is not much you can do to stop these things but I have to highlight, Calgary remains very safe and of course our hearts and our thoughts as a community go towards that victim and all victims of violence who deserve to live in a safe city as we all do.”
Keeton Michel Gagnon, 39, is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the stabbing.
With files from Caley Ramsay, Global News.
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