15-year-old girl shot to death in northeast Calgary
A 15-year-old girl was shot and killed in the northeast Calgary community of Martindale on Tuesday.
Police were called to the 200 block of Martin Crossing Crescent N.E. at 1:30 a.m. for reports of gunfire coming from the alley.
Officers arrived to find the teen dead in the passenger seat of a black Mustang.
Police say it appears the victim was shot while the vehicle was in the 300 block of Martindale Drive N.E.
"Following the shooting, the victims fled in their vehicle and stopped in the 200 block of Martin Crossing Crescent N.E. to contact police," Calgary police said in a Tuesday news release.
"The suspect(s) also fled in an unknown direction. Descriptions of the suspect(s) have not yet been confirmed."
Officers from the Calgary Police Service's homicide unit are investigating the death, which is the city's third homicide of 2023.
The body was removed from the Mustang on Martin Crossing Crescent N.E. around 5:30 a.m.
Investigators are reviewing footage from the vehicle's dash camera and speaking to the driver.
Police are also canvassing the area to see if any residents have surveillance video that could assist the investigation.
Officials say the victim's next of kin have been notified and her identity will be released following an autopsy on Wednesday.
"We are still in the early stages of this investigation, and we have a lot of unanswered questions that we are working through," said Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta.
"At this point, we are unable to confirm if this shooting was targeted, and we have dedicated a significant amount of resources to identify any persons involved."
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or to submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
'PRETTY SCARY': COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACT
Before it was towed, the Mustang was sitting directly in front of Kirk Russell's home.
"This is pretty scary. It's a family-friendly area so there's a lots of kids around here," he said.
"Being a father of four, I could never imagine ever having to get that phone call."
Russell said he didn’t recognize the car.
Area resident Manu Ratten says he never thought violence like this could happen so close to his home.
He says he heard a vehicle speeding down the road but didn't hear any gunshots.
- With files from Austin Lee
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Federal dental insurance program to be phased in over 2024, benefits to start in May
The new federal dental insurance plan will be phased in gradually over 2024, with the first claims likely to be processed in May, government officials said ahead of a formal announcement scheduled for Monday morning.
'We're trying not to break down': Sask. family desperate to find their loved one last seen in Toronto
The family of 39-year-old Lesley Sparvier has been trying to find and locate her after she left home on foot in Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Sask. on Nov. 28.
Buckingham Palace releases this year’s Christmas card
Buckingham Palace released an image of the Christmas card that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be sending out this year.
Iowa man arrested in the death of a Nebraska Catholic priest
A man has been arrested in the stabbing death of a Catholic priest who was attacked over the weekend in a church rectory in a small Nebraska community, authorities said.
The Université de Moncton will not be getting a new name
The board of New Brunswick's Universite de Moncton has decided not to change the school's name despite concerns about its connection to a problematic historical figure.
Trump says he won't testify Monday at his New York fraud trial and sees no need to appear again
Donald Trump said Sunday he has decided against testifying for a second time at his New York civil fraud trial, posting on social media that he "VERY SUCCESSFULLY & CONCLUSIVELY" testified last month and saw no need to appear again.
Saskatchewan is a safe space to buy 'sustainable oil,' Scott Moe says
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is working hard to use a global climate change conference as an opportunity to market the province’s non-renewable resources.
LCBO reveals what Ontarians drank the most this year
When it came to what Ontarians brought home during their liquor runs at the LCBO, the company said customers went for options that gave them more bang for their buck.
Al Gore calls UAE hosting COP28 'ridiculous,' slams oil CEO appointed to lead climate talks
Climate advocate and former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday called into question the decision to hold the COP28 climate talks in the United Arab Emirates, a leading producer of the world’s oil.