Calgary police have confirmed the man arrested early Wednesday morning in Ranchlands was arrested on Monday in connection to the shooting death of Natasha Farah.
“He is one of the alleged gunmen,” said CPS Staff Sergeant Mike Cavilla. “We’ve established that there was more than one shooter.”
Shortly after midnight, officers attended an apartment in the 6600 block of Ranchview Dr. N.W. An unidentified man was arrested and charged with reckless use of a firearm.
Police confirm the suspect had been arrested on Monday in connection to the fatal shooting in the Beltline on Saturday morning. The man was released on Tuesday, several hours before the search of the Ranchlands residence.
“We initially arrested four persons of interest, one of which is the individual we re-arrested in the early hours of today,” said S/Sgt. Cavilla. “We were able to identify the suspect that we arrested today as being one of the shooters at the scene in the early morning hours of August 23 at the intersection 11 Avenue and 1 Street S.W.”
“Initially, we didn’t have that information or evidence. Now we do.”
Cavilla says two of the suspects have been ruled out as possible shooters.
“The evidence was gathered from further statements from eyewitnesses at the scene that were able to identify the person we have in custody,” said S/Sft. Cavilla. “CCTV footage played a major role in helping to identify the person we have in custody, as putting him at the scene."
Surveillance footage was obtained from the scene of the incident as well as other areas of the city following the shooting.
Police indicate the shots were fired by multiple firearms but the shooting was not an exchange of gunfire.
“We have confirmed that they were not shooting at each other, they are friends. They were shooting into a crowd of people, at which time the innocent victim was struck with a bullet.”
Police are awaiting the results of forensics and ballistics testing before additional charges are considered.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting, or has information pertaining to the culprit, is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service, 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers.
