Police seek murder witnesses as persons of interest identified
Police have identified four men as persons of interest in the October slaying of a Calgary businessman — now they need witnesses to come forward so they can lay charges.
“We have forensic evidence that helps tie these individuals to the crime,” Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm with the homicide unit told reporters Thursday, at the six- month mark of the investigation. “However, we need people to come forward. We need witnesses that can come forward and corroborate what we have from a forensic perspective.”
Investigators have located a car, but continue searching for a second vehicle that was seen leaving the area following the crime.
Maqsood Ahmed, 55, and a female employee were closing up his money transfer business at a strip mall in the 4700 block of Westwinds Drive N. E. at about 9: 40 p. m. on Oct. 8, 2014. Ahmed was carrying an undetermined amount of cash and receipts when he was approached and attacked by two males, who stabbed him and robbed him of the cash he was carrying.
Ahmed — remembered as a father, hard- working businessman and well- known figure in Calgary’s Pakistani community — was taken to hospital where he later died. The female employee was uninjured.
“I don’t believe there was any relationship between the victim and the offenders. We believe it was a targeted attack based on the information that the offenders obtained in relation to the cash that the suspect was carrying and the frequency and time at which he carried the cash away from his business,” Chisholm said.
“Whether they had actually cased out the incident beforehand, it’s a high probability they did do that.”
Detectives have now identified four persons of interest — two black males and two white males — who are not co- operating with investigators. Chisholm said it’s believed two people carried out the attack, while the other two provided “support.”
Police have also recovered a vehicle allegedly used in the robbery and homicide. A 1999 Toyota Solara, belonging to one of the persons of interest, was found in Castleridge shortly after the crime and contained “significant forensic evidence,” but police are not releasing details of what was uncovered.
Investigators continue to search for a second vehicle, a 2006- 2008 silver Pontiac Grand Prix, captured on video surveillance near the business about 10 minutes prior to the robbery and homicide. The occupants in the Solara and the occupants in the second vehicle reportedly met up and spoke before the attack took place.
Chisholm said police have spoken to “dozens” of individuals in connection with the case, but are still looking for witnesses and urge them to come forward.