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 Investigators probe the discovery of a body behind a laundromat near 105 Street and 106 Avenue yesterday, following reports of shots fired. (Amber Bracken, Sun Media) |
Homicide detectives are investigating a broad-daylight slaying after a man's body was discovered in a car behind a downtown laundromat yesterday afternoon.
Police were called to the scene, near 105 Street and 106 Avenue, following reports that shots had been fired around 1:15 p.m.
When they arrived, they discovered a man's body slumped in the driver's seat of a tan, four-door car in the alley behind a commercial strip.
He was declared dead at the scene, said Dean Parthenis, Edmonton police spokesman.
Police do not have any suspects and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
"We're (looking for anyone) who witnessed anything out of the ordinary in this back alley," Parthenis said.
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Police taped off the building that houses the A & S Laundromat, Maca Halal Meats and the African Safari Restaurant, as well as a neighbouring house and part of the back alley.
One of the businesses has video surveillance in the front of building, which police will review, Parthenis said.
Cops also hope to talk to people who had been in the laundromat at the time, he added.
Several people who had been on their way to the restaurant for lunch crowded around the scene yesterday waiting to hear what happened.
Many were from the city's Somali community, but said they didn't know whether the victim was as well.
David Popko lives in an apartment overlooking the crime scene.
He said he heard a bang shortly after 1 p.m., but didn't think anything of it.
"I figured it was a dumpster being closed," he said.
Popko didn't know there had been a homicide just across the alley from his home until police knocked on his door while canvassing the area for witnesses.
"It's pretty crazy," he said.
An autopsy has not yet been scheduled to determine the victim's identity and cause of death.
This is Edmonton's 25th homicide of the year. Victims in the city's two most recent slayings were also shot dead.
Abdulaziz Osman Isse, 21, was found dead behind a dumpster at a synagogue in a west-end neighbourhood on Nov. 12. He was the seventh young local Somali man to be killed in the last 16 months.
In October, 22-year-old Edward Ronald Wilson died in hospital after he was shot at a townhouse in the city's west end.
Jason Seruhungo, 21, turned himself into police and was charged with manslaughter, extortion and three firearms-related charges in connection with the death.
ALYSSA.NOEL@SUNMEDIA.CA