1 dead, 1 seriously injured in Ranchlands shooting

Homicide detectives are investigating Calgary's first fatal shooting of 2023, which left one dead and another person seriously injured.

Around 3:40 a.m. on Sunday, police responded to calls of shots fired in the 6900 block of Ranchero Road N.W. They discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds.

One man died on scene and the second was transported to hospital in serious condition.

Police say they believe the incident was targeted.

Jesse Hunter lives across the street from where the shooting happened.

“Dog woke me up around four in the morning or so. I saw lights flashing so I came out, checked to see what was going on. It looked like the usual - they were partying too hard, cops came to shut them down kind of thing,” he said.

Hunter went back to bed but said a few hours later, he learned what had actually happened.

By 10 a.m. on Sunday, only a police van could be seen parked along the street. Drops of blood were visible in the snow a short distance away.

Anthonie Cote and his mom, Andrea, live a few doors down.

He said he heard some commotion close to 4 a.m.

“I heard a couple of thuds, a few actually, and I assumed it was just the neighbours … but it turns out those were gunshots,” Anthonie said.

Andrea has been living in the neighbourhood for 15 years and said this is the first time something this serious has happened.

“Right now my heart is just pounding,” she said.

“I’m upset, very upset because, you know, there are small kids in this neighbourhood.”

Hunter said aside from a few incidents, it’s usually a quiet area.

“I’ve never really felt unsafe here. It’s a pretty good neighbourhood. We’ve got a lot of good people here. So, all the neighbours kind of watch out for each other,” he said.

Detectives are collecting CCTV footage and information from witnesses in the area. An autopsy will take place next week.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234. Anonymous callers can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, online, or by downloading the P3 Tips app.