Shooting victim dropped off at northeast Calgary hospital with critical injuries

Charges are pending against three men after a 19-year-old with gunshot wounds was dropped off at a northeast Calgary hospital on Wednesday evening.

Police said the victim arrived at the Peter Lougheed Centre’s emergency room with critical injuries at around 10:40 p.m. His condition had since been upgraded to serious but stable condition as of noon Thursday.

The people who dropped him off didn’t stay at the hospital – driving off in the vehicle they arrived in.

A short time later, police found the vehicle, unoccupied, in the 500 block of Abadan Place N.E.

Police said three suspects were then located in a nearby restaurant, but ran off on foot.

Two of the three suspects were arrested; police allege they were carrying a backpack containing drugs and a handgun. Both suspects, men in their 20s, are facing charges. Police said their names will be released once charges have been formally laid.

The third suspect was later found at a home in an undisclosed location. Police said he is also facing charges and his name will be released once charges have been formally laid.

A second vehicle thought to be connected with the shooting was later found by officers. All three occupants were taken into custody for questioning, but police said it’s unknown what role, if any, they played in the violence.

“Investigators believe the shooting was not random in nature, although the specific motive is still not known at this time,” Calgary police said in a Thursday news release. “Officers are working to determine the exact time and location the shooting took place, as well as what involvement, if any, the men taken into custody may have had.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers.