Police investigate firearms incidents

City police were busy probing two shootings on the weekend, including one in a residential area that left multiple homes with bullet holes.

Officers were called Saturday to California Boulevard and Catalina Boulevard in the northeast community of Monterey Park where they believe a large shootout involving more than two people took place.

A woman called police at around 10:15 a.m. to say she had discovered bullet holes in the side of her home in the 7000 block of California Boulevard N.E., as well as rounds within the house.

A police search of the area suggests that many shots were fired.

“We were able to locate several shell casings totalling within 25 to 30 in the area so we have some significant public safety concerns,” said acting duty Staff Sgt. Paul Wozney.

“We want everybody in this area in this community to be vigilant and check their houses for us.”

Investigators believe the shootout happened sometime between 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday morning. The casings suggest that more than two firearms of different calibres were involved.

Officers went door-todoor in the area on Saturday to check on the welfare of residents.

Wozney said “multiple” homes were hit as was a local business.

“As far as I know, nobody has been injured, nobody has been taken to hospital, and we’ve received no word that there’s been any injuries right now,” said Wozney.

The homes are not believed to have been targeted.

“We’re obviously treating this as a very serious matter,” he said.

Officers were dispatched to a second shooting, this time in downtown Calgary, after an apparent altercation erupted between two groups of people.

Police arrived in the area of 11th Avenue and 1st Street S.W. at around 4 a.m. Sunday after reports of gunfire.

“After the bars let out, a couple of parties unknown or unrelated to each other started exchanging words on the street,” said duty inspector Steve Ellefson. “Words were exchanged followed by gunshots.” No one was injured. Ellefson said the two groups — about four or five men in total — may have had an encounter at Black Betty Burger and Wine Bar earlier that night. No one at the bar could be reached for comment.

The scene was contained and police spent much of the morning gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses.