Calgary police say Pineridge shooting was 'planned and targeted'

Pineridge shooting linked to organized crime Calgary police continue to search for suspects in a targeted shooting in Pineridge last week. Nicole Di Donato reports.

Calgary police are continuing to search suspects in a shooting in Pineridge last week that injured an innocent bystander.

Police were called to the 200 block of Pinemill Way N.E. at 1:15 p.m. after a man had been reported shot.

When police arrived, they determined that the shooting was connected to a "planned and targeted incident" where the suspects were lying in wait for their victim.

"When the intended target exited his residence, offenders began shooting and chased the man," police said in a release.

"The man took shelter in a nearby residence, where several innocent bystanders were standing outside."

During the course of the shooting, a man in his 40s was hit by a bullet.

The victim was taken to hospital in stable condition.

“While we’re grateful the innocent bystander who was shot will recover, this incident had the potential to end much differently. It had the potential to end much more tragically,” said CPS Chief Const. Mark Neufeld, at a press conference from the street where the shooting happened.

The suspects fled the scene in a white SUV, which was located by police a short time later in the 3100 block of 60 Street N.E.

Investigators believe the suspects made attempts to destroy evidence connected to the crime and are looking for any dash cam or security video that might help.

Police say the incident is connected to organized crime.

"We are extremely concerned at the level of violence displayed during this incident," said Supt. Cory Daily with the CPS.

"Not only did offenders target an individual in a busy residential area, they fired shots towards a group of completely innocent bystanders."

Neufeld says there is no indication of a gang war, but “certainly a conflict.”

“While it is individuals organized involved in organized crime and high-risk lifestyles that are targeted in situations like this, it’s anybody that’s in close proximity that actually can be impacted and could be caught in the crossfire,” he said.

Neufeld says CPS is working to address organized crime through a coordinated offender management approach.

“Focusing resources and efforts on the individuals, the people, the places, the locations and the types of situations that tend to actually drive the most violence and threats through this approach,” he said.

“This year alone, we’re monitoring nearly 350 Calgary-based offenders with ties to organized crime in our city, and we’ve arrested and charged 83 of them, some of them multiple times.”

Neufeld says CPS has also been strongly advocating for bail reform to ensure high-risk offenders aren’t constantly being let out.

This year’s shooting numbers are down from last year, with 83 to date, according to Neufeld.

CPS has seized 340 illegal firearms so far this year.

“Some of them are stolen from break and enters, some of them we find are smuggled from outside of the country. In some cases, it’s hard to tell,” he said.

“We’ve had situations where either serial numbers are ground off and the firearms have no history, or else, the newest phenomenon, as you know, is in relation to ghost guns and 3D printed guns that are not traceable.”

Neufeld says Calgary remains a safe city to live in, but says public shootings like this show how important it is for police and the community to work together. He urges anyone with even minor pieces of information to come forward.

“These things are happening and they’re happening in places that we wouldn’t expect,” he said.

“I think as a community, we all have to get together and decide it’s not something we’re going to tolerate, and together, we’re going to make sure that that blight and the idiots that do things like this are going to be going off our streets.”

Anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage from the following areas and times are asked to come forward to assist police:

Anyone with information about these incidents or individuals with ties to organized crime in Calgary is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234.

If you have information that could help an investigation, such as witnessing suspicious behaviour or vehicles, please contact police. Even something small can have a great impact on an investigation. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips