EDMONTON – The Edmonton Medical Examiner has ruled the death of Amir Ahmed Qureshi, whose body was found on the outskirts of the city Wednesday, a homicide.
The 25-year-old Edmonton man died from gunshot wounds.
Police were called to the area of Ellerslie Road and Meridian Street, shortly before 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, after a city employee discovered the body while spraying for mosquitoes in the area, said Inspector Brian Nowlan with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).
Nowlan says the body does not appear to have been in the area long, as there are no signs of decomposition. He adds there are “obvious signs of trauma” to the body.
Investigators combed the ditches for evidence, but Nowlan says the city employee who discovered the body is likely their only witness at this time.
“There are not many residents up there at all. In fact, there’s nothing between here and the highway, there’s nothing. There’s no residents whatsoever.”
Now, as part of the investigation, police are asking the public for help locating a 2006 red, four-door Mitsubishi Lancer with Alberta license plate GWA 322.
“We believe that friends and family spoke with the victim on Tuesday,” says EPS Major Crimes Inspector Kevin Brezinski. “We are asking anyone who may have had any contact with Qureshi, or any member of the public who may have seen him or the vehicle on Tuesday, to contact police.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the EPS non-emergency complaint line at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.