Calgary police shoot suspect in northwest neighbourhood of Highwood
The Calgary Police Service asked residents of a northwest neighbourhood to shelter in their homes as officers responded to a situation Wednesday morning involving a firearm.
Police were called to the 200 block of Hendon Drive N.W., in the community of Highwood, as part of a response that began at around 4 a.m.
According to police, a moving truck with a Drive Force logo on it had struck a home and several parked vehicles and the initial responding officers encountered an armed man pointing a gun at them.
CPS officials say nearly 20 police units, as well as RCMP support, were deployed to the scene.
Police say a confrontation occurred between officers and the suspect and a CPS member fired a shot that struck the man. The gunshot victim was transported to hospital by ambulance in stable condition.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the actions of the officer who shot the suspect.
A resident of the area who wished to remain anonymous says her daughter saw the moving truck driving erratically Wednesday morning.
"She was wondering what the heck is this guy or this person doing?" the woman told CTV News, adding that once police arrived, she told her family to stay away from the front of the house.
"About 20 minutes later, we heard gunshots and when we looked outside, there was a SWAT team and more police coming."
"Why is this happening right in the middle of night and now, more often, gunshots on the street and on the roads and now in a normal neighbourhood? This is a more family oriented neighbourhood too.
"It does worry us a bit."
Calgary Police Service units and an armoured vehicle in the northwest community of Highwood during a Wednesday morning shooting investigation.Another resident describes the situation as "terrifying."
"I woke up to lights flashing and cops crouching all over the place – in my neighbour’s yard, sitting behind cars – and I didn’t know what was happening," Kathy Adamo told CTV News.
"Then when I heard the shots fired, I was terrified. I thought, 'I've got to get out of the window.' I mean, I could be shot through the house or something."
Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist and associate professor at Mount Royal University, says the incident brings up concerns about gun violence in the city.
"Anytime there’s gun violence in suburban neighbourhoods, it’s dangerous and we’re very lucky to have a highly-competent police service that quickly responded," he said.
Sundberg says it also raises questions about how gun laws are being enforced.
"The current approach to curbing gun violence clearly is more about rhetoric than it is about reality, and what we need is to enforce existing gun laws and we need the courts to take firearms offences more seriously."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
Zendaya tennis movie ‘Challengers’ scores at weekend box office
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino's original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
BREAKING Quebec to invest $603 million to protect the French language
Quebec will invest $603 million over five years to counter the decline of French in the province, French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced Sunday.
Nicole Kidman, who 'makes movies better,' gets AFI Life Achievement Award
Morgan Freeman spoke the words, but pretty much everyone who took the stage at the presentation of the AFI Life Achievement Award agreed: "Nicole Kidman. She makes movies better."