Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman, 21, died of a gunshot wound on December 2nd, 2008.
Abdirahman was Edmonton's thirty-second homicide victim of the year.
Case status is open and active.
Police continue to investigate the shooting death of Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman.
At about 10:20 p.m. December 2nd, 2008 residents of the Dickinsfield III townhouse complex at 89th Street and 149th Avenue heard a volley of gunshots ring out.
Several 911 calls brought police to a parking lot where they came across the body of a man in his 20s who had been shot in the head.
The man's body, with navy blue boxers protruding from baggy black jeans, was lying face down between a parked car and a garbage bin. Three shotgun shells were found nearby. He'd been shot at least once, police said.
Investigators said they had a description of the shooter and a dark-coloured SUV thought to be used as a getaway vehicle but no details were released.
"We're interviewing witnesses and people who reside in the condo complex hoping to find some intelligence that may lead to the identification of the suspects," Staff Sgt. Jamie Ewatski said.
"We have limited information of what actually happened," he added.
The body remained in place until early morning when it was looked over by staff from the medical examiner's office. Details of the man's age or identity were not made available as the investigation continued.
So far, the police gang unit was not involved in the investigation and no suspects were identified.
Several neighbours reported hearing three gunshots before police arrived – read more »
"I was actually at my friend's house last night. We were all sitting in the living room watching TV and I heard three shots," a man named only as Winston told Global Edmonton.
"We both looked out the window. She coming running over here – she seen the body on the ground."
"She looked ... probably half his face and his neck was gone. She ran back into the house and she's like, 'Oh, somebody got shot.' "
"He had a hole right through his back, he had no neck," one woman told the Edmonton Journal. She said the man's head was cocked to the side. "When we rolled him, his head stayed that way."
Several neighbours rushed out of their townhouses to help the man. One woman received intructions from a 911 operator to start chest compressions.
"There was nowhere to blow in his face," she told the Journal. She felt his heart beat briefly, then stop. "We were out there a good 10 minutes before any cops showed up."
The Journal later reported the man's jaw had been blown off.
One man looking out his window saw a dark-coloured Jeep speed out of the parking lot, nearly losing control as it turned the corner onto 88A Street near 149th Avenue.
"Unfortunately, not surprised," was how Annette Peppler described her reaction to the shooting. "I've lived here for almost eleven years and I've watched this neighbourhood go from not so bad to really bad.
"There was a time we used to have barbecues out here and get together," she said, adding she doesn't know many of her neighbours anymore.
"I knew something was going to go down sooner or later 'cause people are running around here," Tanya Penny said. "It's like a drug war in here."
Penny has lived in the complex for 10 years and said the community has deteriorated since she first moved in. She also heard the gunshots.
"I thought somebody was throwing snowballs or something at my window," she said. "I won't go outside at night. I won't," she said. "And my son won't go outside anymore at nighttime. Once the sun goes down, he's in the house."
“This is a bad complex, just bad all around," area resident Mike McDonald said. "Some guy was killed just over there a couple of years ago. It's just a bad area."
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On December 5th police confirmed that 21-year-old Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman had died of a gunshot wound.
Authorities said the investigation into his murder was still ongoing and that a motive had yet to be determined. Police also said they have no suspect information.
Abdirahman was also identified as a member of Edmonton's Somali community – see below.
Those with information about Abdirahman's death were asked to contact Edmonton police at 780-423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.tipsubmit.com
Tips can also be text messaged. In Edmonton, text TIP250 + message and send to CRIMES (274637). In Northern Alberta, text TIP205 + message and send to CRIMES (274637).
On December 10th, 2008 a small gathering of about twenty honoured Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman at the Al Rashid Mosque within the Canadian Islamic Centre at 13070 113 Street.
In attendance were Abdirahman's mother, who had flown in from Mogadishu, Somalia. With her two sons, the woman was hugged by friends who prayed with her.
After prayers in Arabic and English, the casket was carried to a waiting hearse. Family members declined to comment.
However, Mahamad Accord, executive director of the Alberta Somali Community Centre, told reporters the family was "distressed."
"I cannot speak or say what they want to say. We only can express the sadness of losing their son," he said.
The day before, following the funeral of another Somalian shot to death on the same day as Abdirahman, Accord spoke out against police, accusing them of either being "incompetent to solve the problem or they don't care."
In the wake the criticism, Edmonton Police Chief Mike Boyd promised to meet with Somali community leaders on December 11th.
Accord's comments after Abdirahman's funeral can be seen here in an Edmonton Sun video.
Abdirahman's murder took place hours after 23-year-old Abdul Kadir Mohamoud was found shot dead in a north end park.
Mohamoud was also Somalian, joining a growing list of fellow slain Somali men – read more »
The trend stated on August 24th, 2008 when Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, 24, died of a single gunshot wound suffered while leaving the River Cree Resort and Casino on the Enoch reserve just west of Edmonton. A woman was also injured.
Ibrahim had been living in Edmonton for about a year and had family in Toronto where he had been released on a peace bond after a robbery charge against him was withdrawn in March 2007.
Two men were each charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Construction workers came across the body of 22-year-old Nasir Mohamad Said on September 16th, 2008 behind Balwin school on 132nd Avenue west of 70th Street.
The former Toronto man was shot where he was found and investigators believed his death was drug-related. While he wasn't known to police in Edmonton, he was wanted on several outstanding warrants in Ontario and was facing charges in Fort McMurray.
On October 31st, 2008 the body of 21-year-old Abas Abukar was discovered lying in field near 140th Avenue and 92nd Street.
Abukar died of a gunshot wound. He had been living in Edmonton for several months after moving from Toronto. No progress has been reported in solving his murder.
A man shot on November 9th, 2008 in Fort McMurray was later identified as 17-year-old Daniel Asarfo-Adjei. He had only been in the northern Aberta city for a few days.
RCMP confirmed the incident was drug-related and that Asarfo-Adjei was known to the Toronto Police Service.
On December 2nd, 2008 the body of 23-year-old Abdul Kadir Mohamoud was found in Grand Trunk Park near 109th Street and 130th Avenue. He had been beaten and shot to death.
At last word, the investigation into Mohamoud's death had stalled.
Hours later on December 2nd, Abdirahman was found dead.
On April 26th, 2009 the body of Mahamed Farah Khalif was found in Hermitage Park, near Hermitage Road and Victoria Trail. The 20-year-old Hamilton man had been shot as part of a kidnapping and robbery that also involved one other man.
Two men, apparently known to Khalif, were each charged with first-degree murder along with robbery and kidnapping, with one man facing an additional 17 weapons-related offences. Family said Khalif got caught up the wrong crowd after he moved to Edmonton.
A body found November 12th, 2009 behind a west-end synagogue turned out to 21-year-old Abdulaziz Osman Isse, a Toronto man who had recently moved to Edmonton.
Back in Ontario, Isse was facing charges for robbery and uttering threats. RCMP in Fort McMurray also knew of the man. Edmonton police continue to hunt for his killer.
The broad-daylight execution-style shooting of 23-year-old Robleh Ali Mohamed on November 29th, 2009 made national news.
Mohamed, originally from Ottawa, was known to Edmonton police. What wasn't known was what he was doing behind a downtown laundromat in his Grand Marquis and why, according to witnesses, three men wanted to shoot him.
The bodies of Said, Abukar, Mohamoud and Isse were found in public spaces and with no attempt made to hide the remains.
Criminologists have long speculated that such killings are "message murders," intended as a warning to members within the criminal community.
It has been speculated that Somalis have been targeted as part of a gang turf war intended to keep them from establishing a toe-hold in Alberta.
The Edmonton Police Service web site entry for Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman can be seen here.
All the information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site.
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