Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man found near a busy downtown Edmonton intersection early Sunday morning, after reportedly being one of three people shot several blocks away.
Edmonton police responded at around 1 a.m. to reports of multiple gunshots fired near Jasper Avenue and 116 Street. A witness told Global News he heard six to eight shots and then some yelling and screaming.
“Members arrived and the quickly determined that a male and a female had been shot, but had since left the area in a black SUV,” Edmonton police Insp. James Vanderland said.
The injured man was then found dead on the road near 109 Street and 104 Avenue by emergency personnel working in the area.
Police said detectives determined the injured male “was ejected from the vehicle due to it travelling at a high rate of speed.”
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“The information I received is that the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed to get the victims to hospital, and upon cornering he was ejected from the vehicle,” Vanderland explained.
“Whether he was pushed out or fell out or just because of the force – we don’t know that yet.”
It’s not known if he died from the gunshot wound or from being thrown from the SUV.
“The SUV continued with the shot female and made it to the hospital, where she is currently being treated for non-life-threatening injuries,” Vanderland explained.
He said a third victim, a man, made his way to hospital where he is also being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
All three were shot at the Jasper Avenue location. There are several bars in the area, but police didn’t know if they are connected to the shooting.
Vanderland couldn’t say if police were looking for the driver of the SUV. Police also could not say if any suspects have been arrested, or if the shooting was random or targeted.
The incident happened just hours after thousands of people gathered in downtown Edmonton to watch Canada Day fireworks and celebrate the country’s 150th birthday.
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An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning, after which police expect to release more information about his cause of death. The age and identity of the victim is not yet known.
Edmonton police homicide detectives are investigating the suspicious death. Anybody was in the area who may have seen or heard anything is asked to call the EPS non-emergency line or to call Crimestoppers with more information.
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