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Westleigh Michael LaFleur, 25, was shot to death January 22nd, 2008.

LaFleur was Edmonton's third homicide victim of the year.

Case status is open and active.

On their way to a home in the Norwood neighbourhood, the three or four masked gunman responsible for the city's latest murder likely passed a graffiti-marked sign before committing their deadly deed.

Arriving late one January morning at a recently-built three-unit townhouse in an area undergoing gentrification, the assailants came with a purpose. It wasn't to improve property values or promote respect amongst neighbours – it was to carry out an act of violence in a world outside the values of the average citizen.

At about 10:53 a.m. on January 22nd, 2008 police were called after a man was shot at a central Edmonton home.

"Police responded to a weapons complaint. One victim was shot," said a police spokesman. "It looks like drugs were involved."

The incident occured in the middle residence of a three-unit complex at 11205 90 Street. The man was found in the basement and was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, with one source stating that he was "clinging to life" after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.

The man died before making it into surgery despite the efforts of paramedics.

Police remained on the scene for most of the day interviewing witnesses, including several people inside the home. Two men and one woman were seen being taken into investigative custody.

Officers canvassed the neighbourhood for possible eyewitnesses.

A police service dog was brought in to try and locate the three or four suspects who fled the scene. There was no indication if the suspects were male or female or whether they left the area on foot or in vehicles.

Police were frustrated in their efforts to track down the gunmen "because they were masked," said a police spokesman.

A heavy police presence descended around the house.

It wasn't confirmed whether the incident was a home invasion or a targeted hit. Neither could police say if the man was shot in or outside of the home, or if they were aware of the unit's reputation and had been there before.

Neighbours said the house where they saw paramedics pull out the man was well known for its drug activity.

"Trust me, we know which ones are the drug houses," one woman said on the condition of anonymity.

"I'm surprised but not totally – right. Because I know for a fact there is some people around here that should not be," said a man who despite his glasses appeared to have seen a lot.

Another woman seemed quick to defend the inner-city neighbourhood where she lived. Cher Steinke, who grew up in the area and still makes it her home, said Norwood's reputation is undeserved.

"It is a drug house and we all – you know it. If you're living here you know which is which."

"I don't care where you go in Edmonton, you are going to have that, no matter how ritzy the neighbourhood," Steinke said.

"I love the old houses. I love the people – they always say 'hi' to you. Everybody's renovating," said Steinke, adding she would "never leave Norwood."

Roger DeJordy, who lived a few doors down, said the house had been rented to new people about six months ago. He said they came and went at "all hours of the day and night."

"Cars coming in and out ... cab drivers. I don't see any food going in there," DeJordy said.

The neighbourhood is known for prostitutes and drug houses, DeJordy said, conceding that in the past few years the problems have decreased.

"Last couple years, not bad. Everyone was fixing their house it was very good except what happened today I suppose."

"You kind of knew something was going on there," said Dale Post, who figured 15 cars a day pull up to the house.

"It hits real close to home. I thought they were going to get busted for something," Post added.

The man who lived next door to the crime scene said he was suspicious of activity there.

They "mainly kept to themselves. But there was always people going in there," said the man who also asked not be identified.

"It's pretty disturbing considering I live next door. I'm going to have to tell my roommates about it and maybe re-evaluate things," said the man who was not at home at the time of the shooting.

Adrian LaChance, who also lived next door, was at work when he got a call from his wife.

"She said the cops were everywhere and 'Get home.' She was worried that something was happening," LaChance said.

The only one who didn't seem to know of what went on in the residence was the co-owner. Ram Sookhoo said he wasn't aware of any problems in the townhouse.

"Drugs, no, because I go in the building all the time," he said.

Sookhoo said the tenants of the home were a couple in their 50s who had been living there for some time with their two children, who are in their 20s.

"I never had any problems," he added. "They paid their rent. Everything's fine."

CTV Edmonton cameras were still on the scene when Dax Auger arrived. The man said he lived at the residence and was related to the victim.

"I've known him and his family all his life. I watched the news story. Like an hour or two later they told me somebody got shot and he was dead ... that's my cousin."

On January 23rd, 2008 an autopsy revealed that 25-year-old Westleigh Michael LaFleur died from a gunshot wound.

On January 25th homicide Det. Bill Clark briefed media about progress made in the case.

"We believe that those four people went into that house with the intent of robbery," Clark said. "We believe it was a home invasion and a robbery. We believe their intent was not murder."

"Things happened in that house that led to the murder and one of those four suspects fired a shot. And the other three know who did it."

The detective appealed to the three who did not commit the murder, saying the matter was a robbery that escalated to a fatal shooting in about a minute.

"Three of those individuals are not actually involved in the murder," Clark said.

“We are asking that the other three people who were in the house who didn’t fire that shot that killed Mr. LaFleur come forward and talk to us and tell us their side of the story about what went on in that house."

The appeal, based on a hope there was little honour among these thieves, suggested police had little success with leads in their investigation. As the suspects were masked, there was little description of their appearance to offer.

They were all of average height and build, between 5-feet 8-inches and 5-feet 10-inches, weighing between 150 and 170 lbs.

Clark said the robbery yielded a small amount of money and a small safe. Described as flat and and 60-centimetre-square, officers hoped area residents would keep an eye open for the safe, which contained mostly documents, and not touch it if found.

The detective also cleared LaFleur of any criminal involvement.

“He is basically an innocent party,” Clark stated. “He is not involved in the dealings that were going on in the house, but he is a frequent visitor.”

Clark indicated the occupants of the house were involved in the sale of marijuana, but not cocaine or crack. He also stressed the residents had been co-operative with investigators.

While the thieves were likely looking for money and drugs during the home invasion, Clark said there was nothing to cause detectives to link the crime to gang activity.

On January 29th, the day LaFleur was remembered at a service at the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, Det. Clark told the Edmonton Sun police had "nothing solid" in the way of leads.

While police believe the incident was a targeted attack, the Edmonton Journal published an interview with Lafleur's family which suggested the man was a victim of being in the right place at the wrong time.

"Whatever was happening there, I don't know, but he had nothing to do with it," Westleigh's mother, Joanne LaFleur, told the Journal.

The man normally lived at home with his parents in the city's downtown and caught the unfortunate bullet while visiting his cousins.

Recently overcoming a battle with schizophrenia that had developed in his late teens, the right medication helped the man get back on track and into school.

"All these good things were coming," LaFleur said. "Life was coming together because he could function with the medicine. He had everything to look forward to."

"He was a great kid," she said. "He was starting to make his way. When you have schizophrenia, you don't have lots of friends."

When interviewed by the Edmonton Sun, family were upset with early media reports the Norwood home was a drug house.

“He didn't live there. None of that had anything to do with him. He's an innocent victim,” said cousin Eric Wyatt.

“I think they've ignored the fact that an innocent man got killed,” Wyatt told the Sun. “He was great. He was always a very positive person. He was happy (and) looking on the bright side of things.”

Wyatt concurred with Westleigh's mother, saying the man has turned a corner in his life.

“He had his life on the right track,” said Wyatt.

Investigators later confirmed the house LaFleur died in was connected to drug activity, specifically the sale of marijuana but not cocaine or crack.

The 6-foot 1-inch LaFleur loved basketball and was a leading player when he attended Britannia Junior High School.

In addition to his parents, Westleigh left behind two younger sisters.

On January 29th, 2008 Rev. James Holland officiated a memorial to Westleigh LaFluer at the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, 10821 96 Street. He called LaFleur's death "tragic," not only for his family but for the greater community as well.

Holland noted that society had degraded to a point where "something like this could happen."

A young man cut down just as he was coming into his prime was how Westleigh was described by a family devastated by the unprovoked and random attack.

"He was a wonderful brother ... a great human being. He will be dearly missed," said LaFleur's sister, Sharon Davis, 21.

In its coverage of the service, the Sun spoke to Louise Sevigny who met LaFleur through her work with McBride Career Group Inc. The man was enrolled in a Youth Skills Link program, designed to help those diagnosed with mental illness find employment.

"The potential he had was beyond belief," said Sevigny. "He was so close to having a new home, a new career. He was so close to being self-sufficient."

The schizophrenia sufferer was just three weeks away from completing the program and was hoping to enter a trade.

Sevigny and a colleague said they would look into developing a scholarship program in LaFleur's name.

"So that he'll never leave us," she said.

deadmonton 2008 - westleigh michael lafleur