Murder victim identified in bid to generate clues

Police say they’re disturbed by brazen nature of drive-by shooting in parking lot

Edmonton police have identified a 21-year-old man killed in a brazen daylight drive-by shooting.

Jordan Pandey died of his wounds in hospital early Tuesday morning, police said in a news release.

Officers called to the scene of the shooting found Pandey in a parking lot near Ellerslie Road and Parsons Road around 6:50 p.m. on Monday.

Edmonton police Insp. Keith Johnson said from the scene that the victim was breathing and conscious when taken to hospital.

Homicide detectives have now taken over the investigation, police said Tuesday. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Police released Pandey’s name in hopes of generating leads, the news release stated. Investigators are also looking to speak with anyone who saw a white Jeep Cherokee with Northwest Territories licence plates that was later found burning near Beaumont.

Homicide section Staff Sgt. Bill Clark said the vehicle — which was stolen — was seen driving westbound on Ellerslie Road from Parsons Road before heading southbound on Calgary Trail until around 41 Avenue.

The Jeep was later found burning near Beaumont, at Highway 21 and Highway 625, and is believed to have been involved in the driveby shooting, say police.

The vehicle was driving erratically, Clark said, adding anyone who saw it between 6:50-7:15 p.m. should contact police.

Johnson said police were concerned about the brazen nature of the shooting.

“It’s concerning for us that this takes place at 7 o’clock on a Monday evening in a parking lot,” said Johnson.

Pandey’s death is Edmonton’s 17th homicide of the year. By this time last year there had been 28 homicides in the city.