Violent New Year’s weekend in Edmonton

It has not been the happiest of New Year’s in Edmonton according to police.

Between Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, and Tuesday, Jan. 03, 2023, Edmonton Police Service says officers responded to four suspicious deaths (read more below), three non-lethal shootings, and numerous weapons complaints involving knives and someone using bear spray at the Eaux Claires Transit Centre.

Tuesday morning, officers responded to a report of an assault on an ETS bus.

“It was reported to police that a woman was travelling on a bus in the area of 110 Street and 51 Avenue when she was assaulted by an unknown female,” said Carolin Maran, Spokesperson for Edmonton Police Services.

“The woman and the suspect got off the bus at Southgate Mall, where the victim located security and contacted police for assistance. The suspect reportedly left the area on foot toward the LRT station. The woman reported non-life-threatening injuries and declined EMS assistance at the time.”

In a report detailing trends seen by EPS in December, there were 21 reported shootings, triple the total shootings for the same month in 2021.

“Between the three suspicious deaths being investigated by Homicide Section, numerous other shootings, wielding of knives in public, and multiple incidents involving bear spray, it has been an exceptionally violent weekend in the city,” says Sgt. Aubrey Zalaski, with EPS Media Relations Unit.

“Obviously, we have no control over the timing of these events and must react as they occur to run effective investigations. Resources are stretched thin, and Homicide Section has recently needed to lean on other investigative areas to keep pace and maintain our high investigative standards.”

Officers also responded to 165 shootings throughout 2022, which was 15 more than the previous year.

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Suspicious deaths

On Dec. 30, officers responded to of gunfire near 26 Street and 19A Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found a 28-year-old man in a parked car suffering from serious injuries and began first aid.

The man was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries.

READ MORE: Edmonton police investigating suspicious death in southeast

On Jan. 1, Edmonton police say a 51-year-old man was killed and a 21-year-old woman was injured. Officers also found a burned-out vehicle in connection with the incident.

Police say they were called to a home at 16 A Avenue and 38 Street for a reported disturbance.

Officers arrived to find the man and the woman with injuries. The man was taken to hospital, where he later died.

READ MORE: Edmonton police believe ‘suspicious’ death of 51-year-old man, burned-out vehicle connected

Also on Jan. 1, EPS say officers responded to a reported sudden death at a home near 107 Avenue and 106 Street.

When officers arrived, they found a man dead. At the time, the man was not identified, and investigators were treating the death as suspicious.

Lastly on Jan. 2, EPS says paramedics responded to reports of a man in medical distress outside of a shelter near 100 Street and 105A Avenue.

The man was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Hospital staff contacted EPS some time after the man had arrived at the hospital and reported his injuries were consistent with a gunshot wound.

Members of the homicide unit have since taken over the investigation and say an autopsy is scheduled for Jan. 9.

If anyone has any information about any of the crimes listed above, or any crime, they are asked to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

-With files from Kelsey Patterson and Courtney Theriault