Riaz Mamdani, founder and CEO of Strategic Group, has been identified as the victim injured in a Monday morning shooting in Calgary’s Upper Mount Royal neighbourhood.
“I know this gentleman very well,” Mayor Naheed Nenshi said. “His family came to this country as refugees from Uganda…with absolutely nothing and he became one of the most important philanthropists in our city.
“All of our thoughts and prayers are with Riaz and his family today and I know he is going to pull through.”
Police are calling the shooting a “targeted attack” and have officers stationed at the hospital with the victim, as well as at a residence connected to the case.
“We think that the shooter definitely knew where he was and who he was going after,” Staff Sgt. Travis Baker said at a 2:30 p.m. press conference. “I would say that…the public doesn’t need to be worried about this situation, other than the fact that it happened on a public street in Calgary, and that’s always dangerous.”
Officers were called to the 2200 block of 7 Street S.W. at around 8 a.m.
When they arrived, investigators found the victim inside a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, where police said he remained in critical but stable condition as of Monday afternoon.
“The victim is stable and he is conscious,” Baker said. “He is speaking to the investigators.”
Baker said there was more than one person inside the vehicle at the time, though no one else was injured. He said the victim was in the driver’s seat but declined to give further details about the other person or people in the car for “investigative reasons.”
Police cordoned off the area, including a black Rolls-Royce which could be seen sitting on the curb with doors open. Three bullet holes could be seen in the vehicle’s windshield and three more were visible in the driver’s side window.
One neighbour, who didn’t wish to be named, said she heard at least three gunshots.
Meanwhile, area resident Megan Turner told Global News she heard sirens.
Police said the suspect is described as “a male wearing a bright orange jacket.”
Baker said police are working to find a motive.
“It’s a fairly quiet neighbourhood so we would hope the people recognize their neighbours and know who should and should not be in the neighbourhood,” he said.
“Obviously this person appears to be somebody that shouldn’t be in the neighbourhood. A bright orange jacket should stand out – we’re hoping someone will recognize that.”
It’s unknown if the incident is connected to a shooting on 17 Avenue S.E. about five hours earlier, or a car fire in the nearby community of Elbow Park, about 14 blocks away.
“The time is pretty consistent with the fact the shooting occurred, then shortly thereafter the vehicle fire was reported,” Baker said. “So we’re certainly looking into both of them with the strong suspicion that maybe they’re connected, but we can’t confirm that at this point.”
Fire crews were called to an alley in the area of 7 Street and 38 Avenue S.W. shortly after the shooting.
“There was an explosion in the back alley and a vehicle that was parked between two garages exploded and caught on fire,” neighbour Rick Simonton said. “One of the garages caught on fire partially.”
Neighbours told Global News they didn’t know who owned the white SUV, which had been sitting on a parking pad.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or contact Crime Stoppers.
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