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WARNING

Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman, 21, died of a gunshot wound on December 2nd, 2008.

Abdirahman was Edmonton's 32nd homicide victim of the year.

Case status remains 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 14803 89A Street 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 had been identified.

Several neighbours reported hearing three gunshots before police arrived – read more »

"I heard three bams, like 'Bam, bam, bam,' " Hamza Awad said. "I could tell it was from nearby but that was about it. I couldn't really tell what it was."

"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. Another woman received instructions 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 and then stop.

"We were out there a good 10 minutes before any cops showed up. I'm still in shock because that's someone's child."

The Journal later reported the man's jaw had been blown off.

A number of residents said the man was shot on a corner where some say drugs are sold.

"I've seen him before. He's only in his 20s," a woman said.

"There's always a bunch of boys right there. I think that this is some kind of drug war. The drugs have gone up in price. There are more drug dealers and they're fighting for territory."

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."

"[It's] kind of scary," mother of three Amanda Teige said. "[I] kind of want to move but where are you going go?"

Another resident said he felt helpless living in the neighbourhood.

"I'm probably just going to move out of the area," Dain Lewis said. "It's been getting pretty bad."

Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman - Edmonton Police Service image

On December 5th, 2008, 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 established. Police also said they had no suspect information despite earlier reports.

Abdirahman was also identified as a member of Edmonton's Somali community.

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 was Abdirahman's mother, who had flown in from Mogadishu, Somalia, along 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 a Somali man shot to death hours before 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.

Abdirahman's murder took place hours after 23-year-old Abdul Kadir Mohamoud was found shot dead in a north end park.

Together, Abdirahman and Mohamoud joined a still-growing list of men from East Africa to have lost their lives working and living in Alberta. See the Last Link's compilation of the deaths on the So many Somalis page.

Investigators made little progress in the case, and in March 2010 the Edmonton Police Commission approved a $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Abdirahman's death – see reward poster »

Those with information 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.

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.
The Last Link on the Left practices fair presentation and the disclosure of relevant interests.
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