Police release new details about double homicide
Homicide detectives want to know who gave a Calgary murder suspect a ride after two men were shot to death in a southeast Calgary parking lot.
Police have released new details about the May 21 double slaying of Colin Reitberger, 23, and Anees Amr, 26 — both gunned down in front of dozens of horrified witnesses in the parking lot of the Real Canadian Superstore on 130th Avenue S.E.
While police have charged 20-year-old Christian Joffre Ouellette with two counts of firstdegree murder in the killings, police are now concentrating on his movements immediately after the brazen daylight shooting.
Insp. Paul Wozney of the Calgary police homicide unit said during a Wednesday morning news conference that police believe the suspect, last seen fleeing the scene in a vehicle, was later dropped off by a red 2004-2006 Dodge Durango at a truck stop on Freeport Drive N.E., near Deerfoot Trail and Country Hills Boulevard N.E.
“It’s believed the suspect then took a taxi from the gas station to Nose Hill Park, where his vehicle was parked,” Wozney said.
“While at the park, the suspect had a conversation with a man driving a yellow Ford Escape.”
Wozney described the driver of the yellow Escape — which he described as distinctive — as a white male with a beard.
Police are hoping tips from the public can lead them to the drivers of both vehicles.
Wozney said police believe a motive for the shooting stemmed from pre-existing grievances between Reitberger and the accused.
“In this particular instance, the elements of the offence of first-degree murder were certainly satisfied,” he said.
“We believe our case against Mr. Ouellette to be a strong one.”
Wozney also said investigators believe Reitberger was the intended target of the shooting, adding that Amr had no involvement in criminal activity at the time of his death.
“Anees was innocent, he had no reason to be shot and killed in public,” said Ismail Amr, the victim’s father — pleading with the public to help the police bring to justice everybody involved in the death of his son.
“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Offering a heartfelt statement on behalf of the family, the father disputed claims made in the days immediately following the shooting that his son was somehow involved in the beef between Reitberger and Ouellette — one police said in May was drug-related.
Wozney said the two slain men were friends and had arrived at the supermarket together just prior to being shot.
Completing the story behind the deaths of the two men won’t happen unless members of the public step up with information.
“We’ve had a lot of success by going to our community and saying we need help,” he said. “We know that there’s other people involved in this offence.
“We know there are people who either have information, or are party to what happened in that parking lot. We need people in the community to come forward with information to move this investigation forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Calgary police at 403266-1234, the homicide tip line at 403-428-8877, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS.
Anees was innocent, he had no reason to be shot and killed in public. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.