Shootings have folks on edge, councillor says
A string of targeted shootings in recent months has many northeast residents on edge and fearful an innocent bystander will get caught in the crossfire, says Coun. Ray Jones.
At Monday’s council meeting, the Ward 5 representative said he’d like answers from Calgary police on how they intend to address the attacks, which may be gang- related.
“We can’t obviously put a police officer on every street, but there’s got to be something that we can do,” Jones told reporters Monday.
“Maybe crack down a little bit more like we did about three or four years ago when we got rid of two gangs,” Jones said, referring to a deadly war between two Calgary gangs, the FOB and FOB Killers, between 2002- 09.
At least 25 murders were connected to that violent spree, which included dozens of shootings on city streets.
Several targeted shootings this year have raised concerns that another outbreak of gang violence — involving different parties — is underway. The police, though, have tried downplaying the possibility.
In recent months, several shootings have occurred in Jones’ ward, where he has lived for the past 37 years. Earlier this month, a Pineridge shooting left a 20- year- old man dead and another injured.
Police maintain most of the attacks were targeted involving parties known to each other. A spokesperson for the police service said more information on the incidents would be released Tuesday.
“You’re never going to get away from targeted attacks. They’re stalking each other,” Jones said.
“The police will tell you there’s probably more guns on the street now than there was back then,” he said, referring to Calgary’s gang war last decade.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who grew up in Marlborough, said the shootings have rattled him, but he was confident city police would soon resolve the issue that has “been very concentrated in one or two” neighbourhoods.
“I know that’s cold comfort to the people that live there,” Nenshi said. “I’ve been very nervous about it, and I am very, very confident that the police service knows exactly what they’re doing and we should see an end to this soon.”