Calgary police say a double homicide in the northeast community of Redstone on Tuesday was not random and is believed to be gang related.
Officers were called to a home in the 0-100 block of Redstone Manor N.E. at around 8 p.m. for reports of shots fired.
When they arrived, investigators found one man dead and a female suffering from life-threatening injuries. Both victims were inside a vehicle in the home’s attached garage; the male, 38, was in the front passenger seat and the female, 34, was in the front driver’s side.
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The woman was transported to hospital with a police escort, but later died of her injuries.
A five-year-old boy inside the car was not injured during the shooting.
“I believe the five-year-old son was the son of the female victim,” Insp. Don Coleman of the CPS Major Crimes Unit said in a Wednesday news conference. “He was in the back of the vehicle at the time.”
“It’s unknown to police if whoever is responsible knew the child was there or not.”
WATCH: An ambulance is seen travelling through Calgary with a heavy police escort after shots were fired
Two other people were in the house when the shooting happened, including the female victim’s second child.
Social services has been caring for both children since the attack.
Investigators believe the victims were in a common-law relationship.
WATCH: Insp. Don Coleman of the CPS Major Crimes Unit speaks to the media about a double homicide in northeast Calgary on Tuesday evening.
Coleman said the female victim was known to investigators and had a “lengthy history of being associated to multiple criminal networks in the city.”
“It would appear … that the victims were possibly being monitored,” Coleman said. “[They] arrived at the residence, pulled into the garage and the attack occurred at that point.”
Coleman: good likelihood double homicide linked to other incidents given gang ties but still being investigated #yyc
— Nancy Hixt (@NancyHixt) September 21, 2016
Police believe the 911 call came from someone inside the house, but not from one of the victims. Family members are co-operating with police.
Coleman spoke about the gang lifestyle in an effort to encourage those with information on the attack to come forward.
“Your best chance at survival and exiting this lifestyle is to come forward and let us give you a hand.”
“There’s really only two ways out of this lifestyle: a police-assisted exit strategy – or what happened last night.”
Global News spoke to a father of three who lives just a few blocks away from where the shooting occurred.
Parm Gill said he was shocked to hear of a double homicide in his neighbourhood.
“It’s very close to home and it’s scary,” Gill said. “It’s shocking actually. I just came home from work and saw all of this.”
“It’s a really quiet neighbourhood. It’s mostly kids and families here – so this is really out of the ordinary.”
GALLERY: Deadly shooting in northeast Calgary
As of Wednesday morning, police said a description of the suspect(s) was unavailable.
Anyone with information is asked to call Calgary police at 403-266-1234 or the Homicide Unit Tip Line at 403-428-8877. Tips can also be anonymously submitted by contacting Crime Stoppers.
With files from Doug Vaessen
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