First-degree murder charge laid in deadly shooting as police seeking other suspects in spate of violent crimes
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One arrest has been made in connection with last week’s shooting death of a woman in the Evergreen neighbourhood, an incident that also left her husband with serious injuries.
Nakita Baron, 31, was killed when she and her husband Talal Fouani were shot in their car that was parked in a driveway near their home on Everwoods Court S.W. on Aug. 18. Fouani was critically injured and remains in hospital, although his condition has since improved.
According to court documents, Fouani is accused of partaking in a criminal organization, money laundering and possession of stolen property in excess of $5,000.
Michael Tyrel Arnold, 34, of Sherwood Park faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, according to a statement issued by Calgary police late Friday.
Arnold was arrested by Edmonton police Thursday and has since been brought to Calgary.
“Our homicide unit conducted a thorough investigation to find answers in what was a brazen act of violence that occurred in broad daylight,” said homicide unit Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson in the Calgary police statement.
He also acknowledged the role of the Edmonton police, Strathcona County RCMP and the public in the leadup to Arnold’s arrest.
Arnold’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 26.
The Evergreen homicide is just one of a number of incidents sapping investigative resources, which police say are being stretched by a spike in homicides, shootings and other violent incidents in the second half of August that include a spate of shootings and three homicides or unexplained deaths.
One of those deaths is that of a man whose body was found on a street in Calgary’s northwest, which isn’t thought to be criminal, police said Friday.
The homicide unit was investigating the discovery of a man’s body lying in the street on 18th Avenue near 20th Street N.W. Thursday afternoon.
But on Friday, they said the death of the man in his 50s isn’t suspicious, though a preliminary autopsy is needed to determine how he died.
And they’re seeking to speak to a woman who’s thought to be the last person who had contact with the man. She was driving a 2009 white GMC Sierra truck with an Alberta licence plate 03L 432.
“The truck has since been reported stolen and is described as having a manual liftgate and may have landscaping tools in the back,” police said in a news release.
Police also said they can’t confirm if the body was dumped at that location in the Banff Trail community.
Earlier on Thursday, a man was left in life-threatening condition after it’s believed he was assaulted by two other men in the 1700 block of 8th Street N.W.
On early Sunday morning, 35-year-old Temesgen Tesfatsion died from gunshot wounds after being shot at the Ambassador Restaurant and Bar at 3504 17th Avenue S.E.
There have been several shooting incidents in the city’s southeast and northeast that have resulted in property damage and at least three injuries.
As of Friday afternoon, police say there have been 97 shootings in the city so far this year, compared to 95 in all of 2021.
They’ve called on the public to help them solve those crimes and deter others from committing more of them.
On Wednesday, police Chief Mark Neufeld said while the incidents are concerning, Calgarians shouldn’t be alarmed.
“You know, I don’t think that the average Calgarian has to do too much,” said Neufeld. “I think what we’ve seen is that shootings are targeted in most cases. And the average Calgarian probably won’t be impacted by this.“
It’s important, he said, for police to work with Calgary communities and all levels of government “to make sure that this doesn’t become normalized.“
On Friday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek wouldn’t comment on the crime wave but said she agrees with Neufeld’s response and would speak further on the issue “after I have a look at the stats.”
The crime surge shows that this is not the time to reduce funding for police and that intercepting the flow of handguns being smuggled into Canada from the U.S. is vital, Mount Royal University criminologist Doug King has said.
Earlier this week, the province announced applications are now open for the Alberta Crime Prevention Grant, which will provide $5.2 million in grants over two years to charities, First Nations, municipalities and community groups working on crime prevention initiatives.
Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said the money is part of the government’s focus on finding new approaches and strategies to keep Albertans safe.
–With files from Brodie Thomas and Kevin Martin
Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn
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