Lethbridge Police charge individual in connection with shooting incident

On Jan. 5, Lethbridge Police have charged one individual in connection with a shooting incident on the city’s northside.

Police responded to a report of a shooting just after 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2021 outside a residence in the 800 block of 7 A Avenue North. A 49-year-old Lethbridge man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

The area was searched but a suspect was not located at the time, and the investigation was turned over to the Violent Crimes Unit. Around noon Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, patrol members stopped a vehicle in the 3200 block of 1 Avenue South and two individuals were taken into custody.

Investigators believe last Wednesday’s incident was not random and the suspect and victim are known to one another. The incident began earlier that day when a verbal altercation between two individuals escalated into a physical one. One of the individuals left the scene but returned later in the day and another altercation between the two ensued, resulting in the discharge of a firearm.

Bira Jamal Ahmed, 24, has been charged with: aggravated assault; assault with a weapon; discharge firearm with intent to endanger life; possess weapon dangerous to public; using firearm in commission of offence; unauthorized possession of firearm; possess loaded/restricted firearm; possess firearm obtained by commission of offence; and fail to comply with a release order. The Lethbridge man was remanded until his next scheduled court appearance Jan. 7.

The other individual taken into custody Jan. 6 was released without charges.

The Lethbridge Police Service and Lethbridge and Area Search and Rescue are still looking for an unaccounted firearm in connection with the incident. Should members of the public find a firearm, they are asked not to touch it and report it immediately to police at 403-328-4444.

No further details are being released at this time.