Calgary Herald

Suspect nabbed ‘just prior to leaving country’

Man arrested in beating death captured as he was about to board a flight, police say

- MEGHAN POTKINS mpotkins@postmedia.com mpotkins@postmedia.com

A Calgary mom is relieved that police have arrested four men in the death of her son, including one man who was captured in Edmonton as he tried to board a flight out of the country.

Sherry Duperre said the weight of the world was lifted from her shoulders Tuesday when she heard Calgary police had laid four counts of first-degree murder in the September homicide of Trevor Jordan Lomond.

“I feel like I can smile again. It feels like the sun in my life is coming back,” Duperre said. “I haven’t been able to smile or see the beauty in anything for months.”

The 33-year-old father of two was found beaten unconsciou­s at a residence in the 1600 block of 42nd Street S.W. on Sept. 13, 2016. Lomond was on life-support for a week before he died from his injuries on Sept. 21, prompting the investigat­ion to be taken over by the homicide unit.

Calgary police said Wednesday that one of the men arrested in Lomond’s death, Ahmed Mohamed Farah, was captured at the Edmonton airport just before he was able to board a flight.

“Farah was in the process of attempting to flee Canada to Africa in an effort to avoid arrest,” said Insp. Don Coleman with CPS.

“The diligence of the investigat­ive team resulted in his arrest at the airport just prior to leaving the country.”

Farah, 32, along with Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan, 30, Abdulrizak Osman Jeyte, 30, and Mahad Dirir, 31, each face one count of first-degree murder and one count each of forcible confinemen­t.

Coleman said investigat­ors believe that Lomond was kidnapped and beaten in a dispute over money.

“It’s believed the incident resulted over a dispute over money and a possible outstandin­g debt,” Coleman said.

Coleman said investigat­ors considered Lomond’s death a homicide from day one, but refrained from publicly calling it that to protect their investigat­ion.

Duperre said she was impressed by the dedication of homicide detectives.

“I’m extremely relieved. I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I can hopefully finally find some peace out of it,” said Duperre.

“I don’t understand it — don’t get me wrong. I don’t understand how people just don’t value life ... but I’m quite relieved and extremely happy.”

Farah is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 10. Hassan, Jeyte and Dirir will appear in court on Feb. 22.

I feel like I can smile again. It feels like the sun in my life is coming back. I haven’t been able to smile or see the beauty in anything for months.

 ?? GAVIN YOUNG ?? Calgary police escort Ahmed Mohamed Farah, 32, into the Court Services Unit on Wednesday.
GAVIN YOUNG Calgary police escort Ahmed Mohamed Farah, 32, into the Court Services Unit on Wednesday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada