Mother of Calgary man who was shot says he was an innocent victim trying to help someone – Calgary

The mom of a Calgary capturing sufferer is talking out within the hopes of drawing extra consideration to gun violence within the metropolis.

Final weekend, one man was killed in Calgary and one other was injured. Each had been victims of gun violence.

John Smith Jr. was fatally shot exterior Junction Underground, a nightclub positioned at 628 8 Ave. S.W., on Oct. 10.

One other man — who World Information has agreed to not title for household security considerations — was shot exterior a liquor retailer on Falconridge Drive on Oct. 9 at round 2 a.m.

He was shot within the leg and brought to hospital in severe situation.

“My son is my the whole lot. He’s my supporter, and he’s my caregiver. After I misplaced my partner, he’s been with me 24-7. For me to listen to that he was shot broke my coronary heart,” stated Albertine, the sufferer’s mom.

The sufferer’s mom stated her son informed her that he was attempting to assist a lady who was in misery exterior the liquor retailer.

“When my son was popping out of the shop, he had heard there was a woman yelling out of the automotive and crying. He simply requested a fellow to let the woman go, and he informed my son. ‘It’s none of your enterprise,’” Albertine stated.

Albertine stated her son, who’s now recovering at dwelling, informed her {that a} man approached him with a gun.

“As my son was arguing, the man went again to the car. My son didn’t realize it was a gun, and by the point he seemed in direction of the car, the man had shot him within the leg,” Albertine stated.

Police stated up to now in 2021, there have been 71 shootings in Calgary. That’s down 19 per cent from final yr, however gun seizures proceed to be a priority, with 1,236 weapons seized up to now in 2021.

“Of great concern is most of our gun crime has been perpetrated by anyone with a handgun. The place they arrive from is a part of our investigation on a regular basis,” stated Calgary Police Service Supt. Cliff O’Brien.

“They’re coming from far and wide. Generally, it’s from break and enters. Generally, it’s from straw consumers, individuals who can legally buy weapons however buy them after which promote them illegally. Generally, we’re seeing them smuggled.”

He stated police are doing all they’ll to analyze and lay fees, however they want sources within the courtroom and assist from the group.

“We definitely are doing our greatest, however to me, this isn’t only a policing challenge This can be a group challenge. We’d like assist from family members and from household and associates,” O’Brien stated.

“While you see anyone strolling out of a home with an unlawful gun otherwise you see them in a automotive with an unlawful gun and even whenever you see them strolling with a duplicate gun of their pocket, there are solely two issues which can be going to occur, the best way I see it: they’re both going to go and traumatize anyone by victimizing anyone or they themselves could be the sufferer of a capturing.”

Up to now this yr, police have laid 835 fees in opposition to 127 people for incidents of violence involving firearms.

– With recordsdata from Jayme Doll