What we know about Calgary's unsolved murders of 2024

Less than half of the homicides in Calgary this year remain unsolved.

The Calgary Police Service says there were 17 killings this year, compared to 21 overall in 2023 and 27 in 2022.

Of the eight homicides where charges have yet been laid, at least four were shootings.

According to a report presented at the November meeting of the Calgary Police Commission, Calgary had 69 shootings as of Nov. 13, a 21 per cent decrease from the same period last year.

Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson with the CPS homicide unit says his team has been working crime scene and forensic evidence, speaking with witnesses, reviewing CCTV footage and trying to gather as much information as possible.

"One of the hardest things is to have to deliver such tragic news to a family that someone close to them has been involved in a homicide," Gregson told CTV News.

Gregson, an officer with 27 years of experience, says the goal is to bring justice to the families of those who have lost loved ones in these horrific crimes.

"Our job is to maintain that conversation with them, keep them up to date on what's occurring and let them know that we're still investigating," he said.

He said it's a difficult balance for investors.

"We don't want to release too much information regarding an ongoing investigation. We want information to come to us generically and clean from witnesses and other people, so we really must balance that as we help seek answers for those desperately looking for them."

Here are details on Calgary’s six unsolved homicides of 2024:

John Wayne Davis – Brentwood home invasion

Police investigate a home invasion in Brentwood on Jan. 4, 2024.

John Wayne Davis, 53, was Calgary's first homicide victim of the year.   

Officers were called to the 0 to 100 block of Braden Crescent N.W. just after 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 for reports of a home invasion.

One man was found dead in the home, while two other people had serious injuries.

CTV News learned all three lived together.

Gregson said police are just now getting forensic evidence back from the laboratory and from RCMP.

"We’re starting to piece this together, so that kind of shows you the time frame sometimes when we have lots of (evidence).

"We've got different suspects in mind for that one, so this kind of gives you a context or the time frame … We don't get an arrest right off the hop immediately and with more information coming in, we do believe that these crimes can be solved, but it just takes longer."

Abdoul Madiou Balde – Forest Lawn alley injuries

Abdoul Madiou Balde, 24, was found dead in an alley(opens in a new tab) in Forest Lawn on Sunday, July 17, 2024. Abdoul Madiou Balde, 24, was found dead in an alley in Forest Lawn on Sunday, July 17.

Police were called to the 2200 block of 42 Street S.E. at 4 p.m. for reports of a man in distress, but Balde had succumbed to his injuries before they arrived.

His death was Calgary's ninth homicide of the year.

CPS believes Balde’s body was left in the alleyway, and that he may have been assaulted somewhere else before being left there.

"We've got limited cooperation on that one," Gregson said.

"It will all come back to some of the work that goes into that this case, like waiting for some of those forensic and telecommunications results to help us find more information."

CTV News reached out to the Balde family who has declined to comment further.

Jordan Leinen – Deerfoot Trail shooting

Jordan Leinen was killed in a shooting on July 20, 2024. (Supplied: Calgary Police Service)

Jordan Leinen, 19, died in hospital on Saturday, July 20 after being shot.

She had showed up at the Foothills Medical Centre with a 17-year-old boy.

Both had gunshot wounds.

While the 17-year-old was initially reported to be in serious condition, he was later upgraded to stable.

Leinen didn't make it.

Police believe the pair were shot while driving on the offramp from northbound Deerfoot Trail to westbound 32 Avenue N.E. between 5:45 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. on July 20.

"This is an incredibly difficult one," Gregson said. "We’ve got a bit of a gap here where the shooting actually occurred and then to the hospital."

Gregson said police are still speaking regularly to the person driving the vehicle.

"That one really bothers us, our team and our investigators. A young girl in a vehicle, likely not the intended target, and we're working hard to seek justice for that family.

"We're relying somewhat on the forensics evidence that was left at the scene that we have gathered, and then we have to do additional work analyzing telecommunication devices, phones, and that's what slows down an investigative process a lot too," he said.

Police have submitted cellphone information to its technical crimes unit, which hopes to uncover more information about what happened.

Leinen's family declined an interview with CTV News, but her mother Randi Wheeler sent the following statement:

"Jordan was the life of the party, always true to herself no matter where she was or what she was doing. She was so extra, and that’s just who she was. Her energy and kindness touched so many, and she was taken from us far too soon.

"Her life was stolen, and she didn’t deserve it. She had so much more to give, with plans to further her career and a new job starting in the fall at CBE. I remember her calling me, nervous before her interview, and then hearing the joy in her voice when they offered her the position. She was incredible at what she did, working three jobs to care for the kids she loved. I miss her heart, her spirit, her laughter. Jordan loved making people happy, and I’ll never stop missing that.

Wheeler went on to say that a tree has been planted in Jordan’s memory and #justiceforjordie sweatshirts were designed by her friends as a way to honour her.

"We need justice. We need to find the people responsible for taking her from us, and we need your help," Wheeler wrote.

"If you know anything, no matter how small, I beg you to please come forward. It doesn’t matter if you're scared or unsure—what you know could make all the difference. Justice for Jordan is the ultimate way we can honor her and begin to heal."

Hoang Phuoc Dat Nguyen – Carrington shooting

Calgary police investigate a homicide in Carrington on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.

Hoang Phuoc Dat Nguyen, 42, was shot to death in Carrington on Friday, Aug. 16.

Police found Nguyen’s lifeless body in the 14200 block of First Street N.W. at 5 p.m.

Shortly after the shooting, a vehicle fire was reported in Rocky View County, between 176 Avenue and Township Road 264.

Police believe the vehicle fire may be connected to the shooting.

CTV News was unable to make contact with the Nguyen family for an interview.

Michael Vesterfelt – Forest Lawn shooting

Michael Vesterfelt, 62, died after being shot while at a Forest Lawn home on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.Michael Vesterfelt, 62, died after being shot while at a Forest Lawn home on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Police rushed to the 900 block of 40 Street S.E. just before 7:30 p.m. for reports of shots fired.

Vesterfelt was taken to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, but later died.

His death was Calgary's 14th homicide of the year.

Vesterfelt’s sister Debbie Hann says her brother had just moved into the home in September and was known as a "peacemaker" in the community by his neighbours.

"He wasn't one to start a confrontation, but he wouldn't back down if he thought he could resolve it, however necessary," said Hann.

"He would be the first one to help somebody, and he certainly would be there if you needed somebody to help you move or whatever. I always loved him for being there for me."

When it comes to the incident that led up to Vesterfelt’s death, Hann says her brother died hoping to resolve a conflict inside the Forest Lawn home.

"All we know from police is that Mike was defending somebody, and it was a very reactionary incident in that they don’t think the perpetrator knew he was going to shoot Mike until a few seconds before it actually happened," she said

"So, this is another reason get the person who did this off the street, because obviously he's very volatile and unpredictable. Please reach out to the police or crime stoppers if you know anything, it’s really important that somebody is being held accountable."

John Noon Ochelo – Homestead homicide

Calgary police investigate a deadly shooting at a home in the 200 block of Homestead Drive N.E. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

John Noon Ochelo, 28, was killed at a home in the community of Homestead on Friday, Oct. 18.

Officers were called to the 200 block of Homestead Drive N.E. for reports of a shooting just before 7:30 p.m.

Police found Ochelo dead at the scene.

CTV News reached out to the Ochelo family for comment, but they have declined to speak.

Louis Shotbothsides - Pine Creek death

Louis 'Trace' Shotbothsides, 26, was found dead in the 100 block of Creekstone Drive S.W. at around 2:40 a.m. on Nov. 22, 2024. Louis "Trace" Shotbothsides, 26, was found dead in the 100 block of Creekstone Drive S.W. at 2:40 a.m. on Nov. 22.

Police had been called to the scene for reports of a person in medical distress. 

An autopsy was completed later in the day, but police said Shotbothsides's cause of death was “undetermined."

Police say his death is being investigated as a homicide.

He is Calgary 16th homicide victim of the year.

Police are speaking with two persons of interest.

Shotbothsides' brother Jaylon spoke to CTV News, describing his brother as someone who had a passion for music.

"He loved to play guitar, he loved his heavy metal music. He was always trying out to learn new songs and new instruments from the piano to the bass or the drums," he said.

"He was always a kind person, he was a really good brother and what happened to him is just not right, and how we died isn’t right. He will be missed so dearly by everyone who knew him."

Jaylon says only two other people were in the house at the time of Shotbothsides' death, one of which was a family member.

"I feel like this is an open and shut case because my cousin and her boyfriend were the only people there with Trace that night, police haven’t charged them, but if anyone has any tips they should come forward," he said.

"We still don’t know any details, we don’t know where the murder weapon is, who is going to be charged, who they’re looking at as a suspect, we have no update on anything."

Jelisa Maschki – Nose Creek Pathway death

Jelisa Maschki is seen as a youth in a photo supplied by family. Jelisa Maschki, 23, is Calgary's 17th homicide victim of the year.

She was found unconscious and in medical distress on the Nose Creek Pathway near Fox Hollow Golf Course at 4 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9.

She was rushed to hospital where she later died.

An autopsy was conducted, butt Maschki's cause of death remains undetermined.

Despite this, police say evidence collected during the investigation indicates Maschki's death was the result of a fatal altercation the day before she was found.

"Tips from the public have been instrumental in helping us progress this investigation and find answers for Jelisa’s family," Gregson said.

"If you’ve reviewed your CCTV or dashcam footage and don’t see anything overtly suspicious, we’re still interested in having a look at it. Even things that seem insignificant can have tremendous value to an investigation." 

How to help

Gregson says tips from the public are essential and even the smallest detail can offer leads that uncover crucial information to help solve a homicide.

Anyone with information pertaining to any of the above homicides is asked to call police at 403-266-1234.

Tips can also be sent anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

"There are also people out there we know, in many of these instances, that have information and may be reluctant to come forward," Gregson said. "Crime Stoppers is a great tool, and we're going to follow up with that information and the more detailed information we can get regarding people potentially involved or activities around the victims."