Man shot to death in Calgary parking lot identified by police
Calgary police have released the identity of a man shot to death in Marlborough Park on Monday.
The victim was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Trans Canada Centre, in the 1400 block of 52 Street N.E., just before 2 p.m. on Nov. 13.
On Thursday, following the completion of an autopsy the day prior, police revealed the victim was 23-year-old Rami Hajj Ali.
Ali is Calgary's 18th homicide of 2023.
Two other people were injured in the shooting. Both were taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
Two teenage brothers are charged in connection with Ali's death.
A 14-year-old who cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is charged with first-degree murder.
His 18-year brother, who also cannot be named, is charged with one count of accessory to murder after the fact.
A third person was taken into custody for questioning on Wednesday afternoon, but on Thursday, police said he has been released without charges.
14-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED APPEARS IN COURT
The 14-year-old charged with first-degree murder made his first court appearance on Thursday morning.
He appeared via CCTV, but his lawyer, Jim Lutz, reserved a decision on the charges.
He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 30.
The 18-year-old charged with accessory to murder was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.
He is due back in court on Nov. 23 for a bail hearing.
YOUTH WERE ON WAITLIST WITH CENTRE FOR NEWCOMERS
Anila Lee Yuen at Calgary's Centre for Newcomers confirms the two accused were on a waitlist to enter one of the organization's programs, and had been on it for six months.
"They were referred through a community partner to get some assistance," she said.
"It does lead us to the 'what ifs.' What if we did have the resources? If we were properly funded and we could take them into the program right now?"
Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist from Mount Royal University, says Calgarians need to stop shrugging off violence like this just because it may not directly impact them.
"It affects us all. It affects society, and until such time that people stop being bystanders and start engaging and helping the police and taking some responsibility for our community, violence will be an issue that our community faces," he said.
Sundberg notes the supports for newcomers to Canada – especially those coming from war-torn countries or coming from violence – are "abysmal."
The maximum sentence a youth can receive in Canada for a homicide is 10 years.
- With files from Timm Bruch
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump making 'joke' about Canada becoming 51st state is 'reassuring': Ambassador Hillman
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. insists it’s a good sign U.S. president-elect Donald Trump feels 'comfortable' joking with Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mexico president says Canada has a 'very serious' fentanyl problem
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues.
Quebec doctors who refuse to stay in public system for 5 years face $200K fine per day
Quebec's health minister has tabled a bill that would force new doctors trained in the province to spend the first five years of their careers working in Quebec's public health network.
Freeland says it was 'right choice' for her not to attend Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says it was 'the right choice' for her not to attend the surprise dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Friday night.
'Sleeping with the enemy': Mistrial in B.C. sex assault case over Crown dating paralegal
The B.C. Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of sexual assault after he learned his defence lawyer's paralegal was dating the Crown prosecutor during his trial.
Bad blood? Taylor Swift ticket dispute settled by B.C. tribunal
A B.C. woman and her daughter will be attending one of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shows in Vancouver – but only after a tribunal intervened and settled a dispute among friends over tickets.
Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fuelled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69
Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, has died. She was 69.
NDP won't support Conservative non-confidence motion that quotes Singh
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he won't play Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's games by voting to bring down the government on an upcoming non-confidence motion.
Canadians warned to use caution in South Korea after martial law declared then lifted
Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country's president imposed an hours-long period of martial law.