‘It’s a miracle nobody was hurt:’ Gunfire hits Forest Lawn Community Centre in Calgary

Calgary police were called to the southeast community of Forest Lawn just after 2:45 a.m. Sunday morning following several reports of gunshots.

When emergency crews arrived on scene, bullet holes could be seen at the community association building.

President of the Forest Lawn Community Association, Daryl Hunt, said it was the first time this person had rented the hall upstairs.

Hunt guessed that, judging by the bullet holes, it was some kind of semi-automatic weapon.

“All the siding is probably going to have to be replaced,” Hunt said. “It’s astronomical actually. It’s right through the building.”

Hunt spent Sunday morning cleaning up shattered glass from the car window that was hit in front of the community hall. He also found remains of bullets that flew through the building. He estimated that around 20 shots were fired into the building.

“I just don’t understand it anymore. I’m at a loss,” Hunt said.  “I found all the bullet holes in the front here and went inside where there were nothing but bullet holes that came through the wall.”

Police said no one was injured in the shooting.

Hunt said aside from all the bullet damage, the inside of the hall was spotless Sunday morning. He said he’s never had a problem with the various groups that rent the community centre.

A church group had rented the hall during the day but Hunt said it wasn’t associated with the function Saturday night.

Some residents said they came racing out of their homes at around 2:40 a.m. Sunday to see what was going on.

Flora Johnson says she heard numerous shots being fired and the sound of broken glass.

“You could hear people just hollering, they were just scared. The thing is, I’ve lived here for seven years and this doesn’t happen.This is scary,” Johnson said.

Witnesses say at first there was no one outside, but then people started coming out of the bullet riddled building. Police soon came and taped off the area.

“Somebody came up and drove up. I’m not sure if it was a drive-by or someone parked on the other side of the green space…and came over, because the police had cones set out on the little grass strip here,” said James Scavuzzo who lives near the scene.

The man who rented the hall Saturday night has no idea why someone would have shot at the building.

Garang Aken said the whole ordeal was frightening for the guests who were helping him clean up at the hall at the time.

“I was worried but thank God nobody was hurt. But nobody knows who was shooting,” Aken said.

Hunt hopes that security cameras from Ian Bazalgette School across the street will hold some information that could help in the investigation.

Police continue to investigate but no arrests have been made.