One of three victims in the New Year's Day triple murder was remembered Thursday.
Aaron Bendle was gunned down as he had lunch at the Bolsa restaurant on Macleod Trail.
Police said he was an associate of the believed target of the shooting spree, known gang member 22-year-old Sanjeev Mann.
In a written statement, Bendle's family denied he had any ties to a gang, saying "he was unknown to police, that is why they had trouble identifying him."
A spokesperson says the Bendle family is trying to come to terms with his killing and how he got swept up in Calgary's gang war.
Police say even friends and family members need to be aware of the dangers of a gang lifestyle.
"If you are a family member, or friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, and you are just considered an associate of a known gang member, you are at the same significant risk as that gang member," says Kevin Brookwell of the Calgary Police Service.
There are important differences in the way police refer to people involved with gang activity and gang members.
To be referred to as a gang member, a person must meet a specific list of criteria set out by Criminal Intelligence Service Canada.
A gang associate is someone who doesn't meet that criteria but is involved in criminal activity associated with the gang.
An associate of a gang member is a friend or family member who isn't formally connected to the gang but may be at risk from its activities.
