Abdul Kadir Mohamoud, 23, died of a gunshot wound on December 2nd, 2008.
Mohamoud was Edmonton's thirty-first homicide victim of the year.
Case status is open and active.
"Edmonton is basically becoming a slaughterhouse"
Police continue to investigate the shooting death of Abdul Kadir Mohamoud.
At about 9:20 a.m. on December 2nd, 2008 patrol officers were called to the east side of Grand Trunk Park near 109th Street and 130th Avenue after a report of a body found in a field came in.
The call was made by a woman out walking her dog.
When police arrived, they discovered the body of an adult male and homicide section detectives were called in. One investigator said the death looked "more than suspicious" and they were treating the matter as a murder.
No details were released regarding the age of the man, the nature of his injuries or how long he may have been in the field.
Those who got close to the scene described the man as dark-skinned, and that his body was half-naked and bloodied, with his pants and underwear around his ankles and running shoes – see images »
A pair of black shoes, a baseball cap and a coat were seen strewn across the area.
Forensics staff quickly erected a tent to protect the scene from a light snowfall that developed mid-morning.
Officers canvassed the neighbourhoods surrounding the area which encompasses two schools, the Grand Trunk Fitness and Leisure Centre and an off-leash dog park.
Results of an autopsy confirmed the man in his early 20s had died from a gunshot wound. Police had identified the man but had yet to notify his next of kin, delaying the release of his name.
Investigators said there appeared to be no connection to any other homicide in the city and a motive remains unknown.
On December 5th police confirmed that 23-year-old Abdul Kadir Mohamoud had been beaten and shot to death.
Authorities said the investigation into his murder was still ongoing and that a motive had yet to be determined. Police also said they had no suspect information.
Mohamoud was also identified as a member of Edmonton's Somali community.
Those with information about the man'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).
Neighbours said the park is usually quiet and well-used by children throughout summer. But overnight several said they had heard shots – read more »
Randy Shopland heard a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot or a firecracker, but didn't think much of it.
"In a way, it doesn't surprise me," he said of the death. "It could happen anywhere."
"About 2 a.m. this morning I heard banging," Jasmine Fox said. "I thought it was the furnace."
Craig Maltby was staying with a friend who said she heard several gunshots.
"She said she was awakened by three gunshots this morning ... or what she suspected was three gunshots, she didn't know.
"When she woke up she and looked outside she could hear someone but she couldn't them but she saw a white car speeding away."
"Holy smokes," Byron Holloway offered when asked for his reaction.
"We've been here now about a month-and-a-half now, it's a pretty good neighbourhood. Never really heard nothing, no fights or anything."
"I was actually pretty surprised because of the tape and stuff," Kyle Pike said. He could see the crime scene from his front door.
"Edmonton's where I've spent my entire life ... that's the first time something like this has happened."
"Edmonton is basically becoming a slaughterhouse"
On December 9th, 2008 – the day Abdul Kadir Mohamoud was laid to rest – more details about his murder emerged.
The information was provided by Mohamoud's mother, Fadumo Arab, as she criticised Edmonton police for their apparent inaction.
Arab made the comments at a gathering held at the Alberta Somali Community Centre at 102 Street and 127 Avenue – read more »
Police told Arab they they found the car her son was in when he was killed. They had also located the other two occupants of the vehicle and some weapons but had yet to charge anyone.
"I really, really didn't like the explanation the police told me," Arab said through a translator.
"They're saying 'We don't have any evidence that these people killed your son.' ... You caught them in the car that my son was in and with weapons.
"What else do you need? You want to see them shooting my son?
"The police seem to be having problems blaming youths themselves, and that's an injustice that's taking place. Not everybody is bad," she said.
"I feel these youths are dying with no reason, like they have no rights whatsoever. We came here to Canada to be in a safe haven, but we don't feel we're receiving that, according to what's happened to our own children," she said.
"The way I feel, Edmonton is basically becoming a slaughterhouse, in particular for our children," she said.
Arab's theme was continued by Mahamad Accord, executive director of the Alberta Somali Community Centre, who too had harsh words for the efforts of city police.
"It is evident that either the police is incompetent to solve the problem or they don't care," Accord said.
"Some segments of the population are not getting the service they deserve," he said "If this happened to anybody other than Somalis, the result would be different."
Accord said his community has lost faith in police will be taking their concerns to the mayor and other levels of government.
An Edmonton Sun video of the statements made by Arab and Accord can be see here.
Police were not immediately available for comment but Chief Mike Boyd stated he would be meeting with Somali community leaders shortly.
Mohamoud was born in Somalia and moved to the Toronto area with his family as a child. He moved to Edmonton two years ago.
Arab described her son as a helpful, hard-working young man.
"He was a wonderful child, like any other normal child," she said. "He was a very loving child and I sincerely loved him, like any other mother would."
Arab said she left a voice mail for Mohamoud about two weeks ago. When he didn't return her call she knew something was wrong.
Friends remembered Abdul through a tribute page on Facebook.
The images and comments posted offered insight into the man's life in Edmonton.
Mohamoud's murder took place just hours before another Somali man was gunned down outside a north-end condo – read more »
21-year-old Ahmed Mohammed Abdirahman was found dead at about 10:20 p.m. after shots were fired in the parking lot of the Dickinsfield III townhouse complex at 89th Street and 149th Avenue.
The man had his jaw blown off by at least one shotgun blast. Police said they have no motive or suspect information.
The violent trend of Somli deaths had started earlier in the year.
On August 24th, 2008 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 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 Abdul Kadir Mohamoud 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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