What we know about gun violence, shootings in Calgary so far this year
Calgary police officers have seized almost 350 firearms so far this year, including 14 that were 3D printed.
It's a hefty amount that puts Calgary on pace to reach 500 gun seizures by the end of the year.
The numbers were included in a presentation on gun violence in Calgary at a meeting of the Calgary Police Commission on Wednesday.
"We continue to be concerned about gun violence in our city," Supt. Scott Boyd said.
"We know that we're on pace to break previous records with this level of violence and it's already taken too many lives.
"The violence can be directly contributed to the wanton and reckless behavior of a few individuals in our city who do not reflect the same caring beliefs and values that the majority of Calgarians display."
In total, 556 charges have been laid in relation to so-called 'crime guns' – guns believed to be used in crimes – seized by police.
Calgary gun seizure numbers, as determined by Calgary police, for 2022. (Calgary Police Commission meeting) As of Wednesday, when the presentation was given, Boyd said Calgary had recorded 106 "shooting incidents."
"A shooting incident is designed as a discharge of a firearm that results in personal injury or property damage," he explained.
At least 47 of those shootings were determined to be untargeted and at least 26 of them had a connection to organized crime groups.
"We're experiencing an extremely low degree of cooperation with a large majority of the persons involved in these types of crimes" Boyd said.
Data presented showed 27 of Calgary's gun incidents this year had insufficient evidence to proceed – including nine in which the witness or victim were uncooperative and 18 in which no witnesses had come forward aside from the original complainant.
"We literally are getting calls from somebody showing up at a hospital with a gunshot wound to their leg and telling us that they don't want anything to do with us."
According to police, 12 out of Calgary's 21 homicides so far this year (57 per cent) have been the result of gunshot injuries, compared to nine out of 21 (42 per cent) last year and 16 out of 34 (47 per cent) in 2020.
"Gun violence has really spread across our city and social-economic boundaries," Boyd said.
"Shootings are not occurring in one particular area. Crime literally knows no boundaries and gun violence should be a concern for all Calgarians."
Though CPS says shootings don't tend to happen at any particular time of day or day of the week, most shootings this year occurred around midnight (10) or 10 p.m. (9) and most happened on Saturdays (19), Mondays (17) and Wednesdays (17).
"We're seeing guns smuggled, we're seeing guns made at home, 3D-printed, stolen from residential break-and-enters but also commercial break-and-enters," Boyd said.
"There is no room for this level of reckless behavior to take place in our beautiful city."
Calgary shooting motivations, as determined by Calgary police, for 2022. (Calgary Police Commission meeting) CPS has a four-pronged approach to battle gun violence including risk intervention and specialized investigation, incident response, prevention and community engagement.
"Although most shootings are targeted, not all are tied to gangs," Boyd said. "Shootings put our entire community at risk."
Boyd said the issue of increasing gun violence appears to be an issue across the nation.
"Undeniably, this is a Canadian-wide trend."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.