2 men in hospital after a pair of early morning Calgary shootings

Two men, both believed to be in their 20s or 30s, were hospitalized early Wednesday morning after a pair of shootings.

The first shooting happened at around 2:40 a.m. in the area of Temple Drive N.E. and 43 Avenue N.E. Several bullet holes were seen on homes and vehicles in the area around Temple Drive N.E. and Templevale Gate N.E.

"We just heard like three to four gunshots," said Haris Habib, who lives nearby.

"After a few seconds, then there was a round of seven, eight more gunshots so we all scared."

Several bullet holes were seen on homes and vehicles in the area around Temple Drive N.E. and Templevale Gate N.E.

"Scared of course, " said Pia, another nearby resident. "Most especially our window got damaged.

"Someone was staying down there," she added. "There's a family, but good thing, gladly no one got injured."

Upon arrival at a residence on the 6800 block of Temple Drive N.E., police found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds who was transported to hospital in stable condition.

Two people who were inside the home with the victim were taken into custody. Police continue to investigate their involvement in the shooting.

"We have kids and the families are living here so we were a little bit anxious about that," Habib said.

There is also a daycare in the area.

"We have kids going here. If it was during the daytime, maybe it was going to be a different story," said Theresa Kumeh whose child goes to the daycare.

VEHICLE ON FIRE

At around 3:10 a.m., police responded to reports of a red Jeep Commander that was on fire in the 0 to 100 block of Saddleland Court N.W. The fire was extinguished and investigators believe it's connected to the shooting in Temple.

Police believe the shooting was targeted, with organized crime motivations, and that the people involved were known to each other.

They're looking for public assistance to help identify other suspects, believed to be travelling in a red Jeep Commander, a white Chrysler 300 and a white truck they think was either a Dodge Ram or GMC Sierra.

Anyone with dashcam footage taken between 2 and 3 a.m., who was on Temple Drive N.E. near Templevale gate, Templevale Road and 43 Avenue or on Saddleland Blvd. to 89 Ave. near Saddlemont Blvd., is asked to contact police.

SECOND SHOOTING

At approximately 3:15 a.m. police received reports of a second shooting, this time in the southeast community of Penbrooke Meadows around the 5300 block of Fifth Ave. S.E.

Police arrived to discover one man shot, in medical distress. He was transported to hospital in serious but stable condition.

They located a stolen dark grey Honda Civic nearby which is believed to be connected to the shooting.

A nearby resident calls the situation unsettling.

"There are a lot of police cars and different activities that come through here quite a bit," Michael Knox said.

"Whether it's low income, high income, doesn't matter where you are, people just want to have a sense of safety."

SHOOTINGS NOT CONNECTED: INVESTIGATORS

Investigators don't believe that the two shootings are connected and say no arrests have been made.

Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist and associate professor at Mount Royal University, says the fact that they're not connected is more concerning than if they were.

"it's two investigations which means it's yet again stretching the resources of the Calgary police even further," he said.

"This is just another indication that we have to really put some thought into how we're addressing crime in our communities."

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234. Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by downloading the P3 Tips app.

At least two homes and three vehicles were hit in an early morning shooting today in the NE Calgary community of Temple.

There is a daycare right in the middle of where gunfire rang out around 2:40am.

One man was sent to hospital with a gunshot wound. #YYC pic.twitter.com/gU0QZ7J0TM

— Austin Lee (@AustinLeeCTV) February 15, 2023