Edmonton police are investigating 10 shootings that happened between Nov. 30 and Dec. 8.
In those nine days, three people died, there were five shootings that resulted in injuries and two where shots were fired but no one was hit.
“In addition to three deaths being investigated by our homicide section, EPS officers are investigating three different people who have turned up in hospital ERs with gunshot wounds, a house that was shot at while the occupants were inside and numerous other shooting files,” says Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart with the guns and gangs section of the organized crime branch.
“It’s only the middle of December.”
To compare, EPS said there were 12 shootings in the month of November.
Stewart said many shootings this year have happened during the day.
“They continue to be very brazen and careless,” he said.
Another trend emerging is the use of more than one gun during these shootings.
“We’re seeing on occasion, there’s multiple firearms with multiple rounds being fired,” he said.
“As you can see, that is very concerning to the public with these these bullets flying everywhere.”
EPS said it’s not believed any of the shootings are linked.
On Dec. 3, Sanraj Singh was found in medical distress in a car in Millwoods after police responded to a report of gunshots in the area. His death was ruled homicide by gunshot.
On Dec. 6, police responded to a weapons complaint at a home near 117 Avenue and 87 Street. Officers found a man in his 30s, shot dead, inside. His death is being treated as suspicious. On Tuesday, Edmonton police said Tyler Atkinson, 34, died of a gunshot wound but his manner of death was not being released yet for investigative reasons.
The next day, about twenty blocks west, police found a man in medical distress following a “trouble unknown” call to police. He was pronounced dead and his death is being treated as suspicious. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
Police ask those with information about the shootings to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cellphone. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers.