'I started breaking down:' Friends remember 15-year-old Calgary homicide victim
A 15-year-old girl shot to death in the northeast Calgary community of Martindale early Tuesday morning, has now been identified by friends and police as Sarah Alexis Jorquera.
Jorquera was a passenger in the front seat of a Ford Mustang around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when she was shot and killed.
Police were called to the 200 block of Martin Crossing Crescent N.E. for reports of gunfire coming from a nearby alley.
Jorquera was shot while the vehicle was in an alley of the 300 block of Martindale Drive N.E. According to police, she was in the front passenger seat of the vehicle at the time. Police say the driver did not sustain any physical injuries.
Calgary police investigate a deadly shooting in the community of Martindale on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
Police say they have received several tips that suggest it was a targeted shooting, but that they are still working to determine if Jorquera was the intended target or a victim of mistaken identity.
The Calgary Board of Education confirmed Wednesday that Jorquera was a student at Crescent Heights High School. They said they're in the process of informing the school community and that supports will be available at the school Monday when classes resume following spring break.
SHATTERED BY THE NEWS
Stephanie Topolnicki lives in Spruce Grove, and said she was good friends with Jorquera.
The pair even lived together for the month of January this year in Calgary.
Topolnicki said she was at a friend’s house when she found out Jorquera had been killed.
“I was just about to go to bed, it was six in the morning and I got a call, (saying) you need to pick up,” said Topolnicki.
“I was like, okay, okay, I'll pick up. (Her sister said) 'Sarah's gone'. I was like, what do you mean? Maybe she just didn't come home but the sound of her sister's voice, and then I started breaking down.”
Topolnicki said she felt shattered by the news of losing someone she considers a little sister.
“I felt like I lost my sister and my best friend. It hurt a lot."
Jorquera and her friend Stephanie Topolnicki (Photo courtesy Stephanie Topolnicki)
Topolnicki said she has dealt with a lot of anxiety since Jorquera’s death.
“A lot of like unknown anger. I just want to know, why,” said Topolnicki.
"She didn't deserve that or anything and everyone knows that. But it's hard to not know what happened to your best friend that's been there for so long.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Running through middle age can keep brain healthy and neurons wired: study
Exercising as you age can help maintain memory and fight cognitive decline, according to a new study.
Prediabetes: The younger you are, the higher the risk of dementia
People who develop prediabetes when they’re younger are likely to have a higher risk for dementia in later life, a new U.S. study has found.
GOP-controlled Texas House impeaches Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, triggering suspension
Texas' Republican-led House of Representatives impeached state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday on articles including bribery and abuse of public trust, a sudden, historic rebuke of a GOP official who rose to be a star of the conservative legal movement despite years of scandal and alleged crimes.
Hamilton police ask residents to shelter after barricaded man involved in double homicide fires shots
Police in Hamilton, Ont. are dealing with a barricaded person who they say is involved in the deaths of two people.
White's putback as time expires lifts Celtics past Heat, forces Game 7 in East finals
Derrick White scored on a putback with 0.1 seconds left and the Boston Celtics moved to the brink of the greatest comeback in NBA playoffs history, holding off the Miami Heat 104-103 on Saturday night to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals.
Dellandrea scores twice in 3rd, Stars stay alive with 4-2 victory over Golden Knights
Ty Dellandrea scored twice in a 1:27 span midway through the third period and the Dallas Stars beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Saturday night to stay alive in the Western Conference Final.
Team Canada hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey engaged
Celebrated Team Canada hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey have announced their engagement.
Attorney for 11-year-old Mississippi boy shot by police says there's 'no way' he could have been mistaken for an adult
An attorney for an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by a police officer after he called 911 for help said Thursday there was 'no way' the boy could have been mistaken for an adult.
Killer whales wreck boat in latest attack off Spain
Killer whales severely damaged a sailing boat off the coast of southern Spain, the local maritime rescue service said on Thursday, adding to dozens of orca attacks on vessels recorded so far this year on Spanish and Portuguese coasts.
Edmonton
-
Wildfire danger remains high in northern Alberta, but firefighters making progress
The number of wildfires burning in Alberta's protected forest areas has continued to drop.
-
'It was just adorable': Grade 1 students surprise departing firefighters with special goodbye gifts
An Edmonton Grade 1 class was at the Edmonton International Airport Saturday to give a crew of wildland firefighters handmade thank-you cards and wish them well on their way back to New Brunswick.
-
'More connected': Researchers looking at growing food under solar panels
Lawns, backyards and roofs could be used to produce both solar power and fresh vegetables, University of Alberta researchers say.
Vancouver
-
‘A crime of passion’: Bizarre B.C. bakery break-in caught on camera
The owner of a cake shop in Vancouver’s Dunbar neighbourhood braced for the worst when she found her store had been broken into Friday morning. But what she found captured by a security camera was a break-in beyond her wildest imagination.
-
Brazen shooting prompts Mounties to host public outreach event
Ten days after shots rang out at a busy Coquitlam shopping complex in broad daylight, Coquitlam RCMP held a public outreach event to address public concerns.
-
Several multiple sclerosis drugs covered by Pharmacare in every province except B.C.
Deborah Stefanek's doctor recommended she take a new medication called Kisempta to treat her relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. She was shocked to learn every province in Canada covers Kisempta under their Pharmacare plans except B.C.
Atlantic
-
Wildfire near Goose Lake, N.S. burning out of control
A sizeable wildfire is burning out of control in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia.
-
N.B. premier calls for calm amid review of policy on sexual orientation in schools
New Brunswick's premier is calling for calm as the province launches a contentious review of a policy on sexual orientation in schools.
-
Man shot and killed by police in Dartmouth, HRP refer shooting to SiRT
A man is dead after being shot by police in Dartmouth during an incident Saturday morning.
Vancouver Island
-
Vancouver Island facing highest monthly cost for nutritious food in B.C.
Everyone is experiencing sticker shock at the grocery store these days, and a new report is putting a dollar figure on how much it’s costing families, per month, to eat healthy.
-
Road closures coming for Oak Bay half marathon
Commuters should expect road closures in the Oak Bay area on Sunday morning for the Oak Bay Half Marathon.
-
B.C. Premier David Eby calls two byelections for June 24
British Columbia Premier David Eby has called byelections for two ridings left vacant after the resignations of the previous New Democrat premier and a former cabinet minister.
Toronto
-
Hamilton police ask residents to shelter after barricaded man involved in double homicide fires shots
Police in Hamilton, Ont. are dealing with a barricaded person who they say is involved in the deaths of two people.
-
Animal advocates call for alternatives to coyotes, foxes in Ontario dog training areas
Advocates are hoping the Ontario government will consider alternatives to the use of wild animals in off-leash dog areas for the purpose of tracking as officials push forward with a proposal to expand training areas in the province.
-
Here's what Toronto's mayoral candidates are promising
Here are the key promises and policies from the leading candidates in Toronto's race for mayor.
Montreal
-
'Pay attention': Family of struck Montreal 10 year old pleads with motorists to drive safely
The family of a 10-year-old girl who was hit by a car almost two weeks ago is appealing drivers and pedestrians to be more careful on Montreal’s roads. Kyaa Guinto is still in a coma at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. “She’s slowly come out of the induced coma, she’s moving her hands, she was able to squeeze our hands, and we’re waiting patiently,” said her mother, Stephanie Ledesma.
-
Quebec trucker subdues runaway injured horse on Highway 40
Quebecers are used to congestion headaches on Highway 40, but Saturday’s hold-up was nothing if not out of the ordinary: a horse broke free from its transport container and ran free in the fast lane. Marco Lelievre, a trucker, stopped his vehicle while driving through Repentigny, Que. after he saw the runaway horse.
-
Meet Diandra D'Alessio, the Montrealer who won Jeopardy! Friday night
Who is Diandra D'Alessio? She's a Montrealer, a technical writer, a history lover -- and she's last night's Jeopardy winner. The self-proclaimed trivia buff made it out on top with $3,299 under her belt.
Ottawa
-
Boost for Ottawa businesses during a busy weekend of events
The president of the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association says hotels in the area are near capacity this weekend, as Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, the Ottawa Redblacks exhibition game, the Great Glebe Garage Sale and other events attract people to Ottawa.
-
96-year-old sets new world record in Ottawa Race Weekend 5K
Rejeanne Fairhead ran her way into the Guinness World Records on the opening day of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
-
Health Canada seizes unauthorized amoxicillin capsules from Vanier supermarket
Health Canada has issued a warning about unauthorized amoxicillin capsules seized from a Vanier grocery store, saying the product may pose serious health risks to users.
Kitchener
-
Three-vehicle crash in Wellington County leaves one dead
One person has died following a three vehicle crash on Highway 6 in Wellington County.
-
Man arrested for attempted murder, another seriously hurt in Kitchener shooting
The Waterloo Regional Police Service has arrested a man for attempted murder after a shooting in Kitchener left another man with serious injuries.
-
‘These issues are still here’: Advocates speak out following unhoused experience event in Victoria Park
A 24-hour camp out in Victoria Park, meant to highlight the homelessness crisis, has come to an end.
Saskatoon
-
'I don't think it's right': Sask. woman sentenced for aggravated assault on senior
A Prince Albert man said he can start moving on, now that the woman who attacked his 89-year-old father has been sentenced. He said because of the assault, he lost both his mother and father.
-
Saskatoon woman faces two charges of assault after double stabbing
Saskatoon police have charged a 28-year-old after two people were stabbed.
-
Why Saskatchewan has a publicly-funded Catholic school system
The Catholic school system in Saskatchewan has a long history and is ultimately protected by the province’s constitution. Something the courts have backed up.
Northern Ontario
-
Team Canada hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey engaged
Celebrated Team Canada hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey have announced their engagement.
-
Two ‘aggressive’ hitchhikers on Hwy. 17 charged
Ontario Provincial Police have charged two people following reports of hitchhikers displaying aggressive behaviour along the Highway 17 East corridor in Kenora.
-
Ontario community battles to keep emergency department from closing for good
A community in Ontario’s cottage country is facing the permanent closure of its local hospital's Emergency Room.
Winnipeg
-
RCMP investigating possible drowning at Whiteshell Provincial Park
A Winnipeg boy may have drowned at Whiteshell Provincial Park, according to RCMP.
-
'Right tree, right place': The work Winnipeg is doing to restore its tree canopy
The City of Winnipeg’s annual push to restore its tree canopy is underway.
-
Five fire departments respond to Friday night scrapyard blaze
Firefighters in the RM of Springfield were busy Friday night, taking on a scrapyard fire involving molten metal into the early morning hours.
Regina
-
Thunderstorm brings heavy rain, hail, tornado warning to southern Sask.
Environment Canada issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for southern Saskatchewan, threatening hail, excessive rain and a potential tornado.
-
Construction worker killed in 'serious' accident at Regina International Airport
A construction worker is dead after a serious accident at Regina's International Airport.
-
Yorkton's Close Cuts 4 Cancer holds 26th annual head shave
Compared to years prior, Brayden Ottenbreit's Close Cuts 4 Cancer had a quiet year in 2023.