‘Random act of violence’: Man shot woman in chest near Whyte Ave after being offered ride home, police say

Edmonton police say a man was arrested in Ontario and has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the “random” shooting of an innocent woman near Whyte Avenue last September.

The Edmonton Police Service says a woman in her 20s was having a night out with friends in downtown Edmonton on Sept. 3, 2022, spending the evening at “various establishments.”

Police say the friends then offered the accused a ride home around 3 a.m.

While in the vehicle, the accused allegedly pulled out a gun, unprovoked, and shot the victim in the chest at close range as they drove by 109 Street just south of Whyte Ave.

“The victim was out with a group of friends,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart at a press conference Tuesday. “This suspect of ours joined the group sometime throughout the night. Our victim did not know our suspect.”

Police say she suffered life-threatening injuries. Her friends drove her to the hospital.

“Truly unprovoked,” said Stewart. “We don’t know what had him come to this decision to do this to her. That’s what makes it very unfortunate, and concerning.”

BACKGROUND: Woman in her 20s shot after pair of overnight shootings on Whyte Avenue: EPS

Police are calling it a “brazen public shooting” and a “random act of violence.”

The investigation into the shooting led Edmonton police to Halton, Ont.

Police say they executed a search warrant on a residence and a vehicle in Etobicoke, Ont. on Jan. 27 with the help of the Halton Regional Police Service.

Thirty-three-year-old Khatar Mohamed Mussa was arrested. Police say officers seized a Glock handgun and “other evidence” to support the investigation.

Edmonton police staff Sgt. Eric Stewart at press conference on Feb. 7, 2023. (Credit: CityNews/Carly Robinson)

Mussa is facing charges of attempt murder while using a restricted firearm, possession of a loaded restricted or prohibited firearm and possession of a firearm knowing it to be unauthorized.

He was brought back to Edmonton with the help of the Alberta Sheriffs Branch and remanded into custody on Friday.

While Edmonton police were on the scene of that Sept. 3 shooting, another shooting allegedly took place nearby. Investigators determined the two shootings were unrelated.

‘Gun problem in our city’

There were no injuries, and the suspect was arrested on scene. But that second shooting complicated the investigation for police.

“I don’t hide it, we have a gun problem in our city,” said Stewart. “We’re trying our best to tackle that, get ahead of the trends. It’s very challenging.”

In 2022, Edmonton police saw a 10 per cent rise in gun violence compared to the year before.

While Stewart says shootings where the victim does not know the suspect are still rare, preventing them is complicated.

“This isn’t like we have organized crime groups or gangs that we can put all our resources towards. A lot of this is unpredictable.”