RCMP Calgary Major Crimes investigators have expanded the search at a rural property near Carstairs where a violent home invasion took place early Monday morning that left a man dead.
At 2:30 a.m., police were called to the Peter Lougheed Hospital after a 67-year-old man was dropped off, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Calgary Medical Examiner is withholding the manner and cause of death while it waits toxicology results.
RCMP say the man was driven to hospital by a friend who was there when the incident happened.
Police say the friend is cooperating with the investigation and they are also speaking with others who were at the residence.
Investigators were able to trace the man to a rural property near Township Road 303 and Range Road 35.
Investigators are withholding the identity of the deceased at the request of the family and say the home was likely targeted by the group of thieves.
Police have no suspects at this time.
Neighbours in the area tell CTV that the home may have been a medicinal marijuana grow operation.
They believe there may have been as many as four licences in place, but the owners may have been producing more marijuana than they were allowed.
Residents say the occupants kept to themselves.
“I’ve never met them, I’ve never seen them, they always keep to themselves and that doesn’t really go well with anybody around here,” says Chris Van Arnam, who lives in the area. “You move in to the community, you’re not expected to be involved in community events, but you’re at least expected to be friendly and do something in the community and they’re not.”
Others say there had been police activity at the property in fall of last year and it was just a matter of time before something worse took place.
Anyone with information about the home invasion is being asked to call their local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
