Two people were injured after a shooting in southwest Calgary on Wednesday night, EMS and police said.
Officers responded to “possible shots fired” near the 1000 block of 17 Avenue S.W. at around 9:40 p.m., police said.
Two men in their 30s had gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital in stable, non-life-threatening condition, EMS said.
Police blocked parts of 17 Avenue S.W. between 9 Street S.W. and 9A Street S.W.
One witness said he saw three men flee the scene.
“I just was walking out and saw a vehicle parked in the parking lot…five loud shots went off, very loud, very echoing,” Derek Boe said. “Then three men ran around the corner and no one was hurt from what I could tell. They yelled at the car across the way, the car drove around the corner and picked them up…they just drove off.”
Global News video appeared to show bullet holes in the wall of a nearby magazine store.
Police said late Thursday the investigation was ongoing and that “detectives have yet to identify the suspects and have not been able to determine motive or if the shooting was targeted.”
“It is not yet known if the victims were the intended targets, nor if any of those involved were previously known to police,” police said.
In an emailed statement, the Calgary Police Association’s president said “gun violence and gang activity is very concerning.”
Les Kaminski also said that when “the service cut the coverage of the Gang Suppression Team almost two years ago, the board of the police association went to the police commission for help.”
“We warned them violent crime and gang activity would increase because of this. Unfortunately, we’re right. The criminals who are committing these violent crimes in public areas have zero regard if an innocent citizen is caught in the crossfire.”
However, Calgary police said in a statement that there have been no cuts to the authorized positions in the Gang Suppression Team in more than six years.
“Like other units in the service, they are not currently at full operational strength, but we are working hard to address needs here and throughout the organization. This includes recently posting a position for the Gang Suppression Team,” the Calgary Police Service said.
“All violence, including gun violence, remains a serious concern for the Calgary Police Service. There are a number of units dedicated to the enforcement of violent criminal activity.”