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 18^th 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