Belvedere LRT murder a ‘senseless tragedy’: Edmonton police
Posted July 12, 2023 5:57 pm.
Last Updated July 15, 2023 10:48 am.
The man charged with second-degree murder for a fatal stabbing outside an LRT station over the weekend has a lengthy criminal history and was out on bail, according to police.
Edmonton Police say 27-year-old Jamal Joshua Malik Wheeler was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and three counts of breaching the conditions of a release order.
“For failing to abide by conditions of a 24/7 house arrest, possession of a weapon, and conditions to not attend any LRT station,” said Det. Jared Buhler, EPS Homicide Section.
RELATED:
- Man killed near Belvedere LRT Station Sunday night: Edmonton police
- Arrest made in Belvedere LRT station death
An autopsy confirmed the 52-year-old victim died from a stab wound to the chest. Police say he was a husband and a father to seven children between the ages of 14 and 27.
“Nine years ago, Rukinisha Nkundabatware ‘Hunda’ and his family immigrated to Canada from the Congo in order to flee the conflict and violence that has affected that country. Hunda’s wife has shared that her family could not have ever imagined they would be affected by violence such as this in Canada,” said Buhler.
“I am frustrated by what I see on the streets and the disorder that exists in Edmonton right now. And you are constantly confronted by it, as was Hunda. We are still investigating what the nature of those investigations was, but simply by reviewing the video, we don’t have the benefit of sound. Things look pretty benign until they were not. This was a sudden, violent attack, and shocking,” he added.
“He did nothing to bring this on. Its a senseless tragedy and like I said, I’m as frustrated as the next person with what’s going on.”
Edmonton has had a violent week. Officers have been busy responding to multiple life-threatening incidents across the city over the last few days.
Between Saturday and Monday, officers responded to weapons complaints, aggravated assaults, a carjacking, shootings, a homicide, and a suspicious death.
“We have to move beyond the concept of incarceration and arrest to solve these problems because it won’t,” said Dan Jones, chair of justice studies at NorQuest College.
Jones is former police officer says we need to get to the root of the problem to curb violent crimes.
“It’s not just the police’s job to fix some of these things, and I think that’s where I think we need to start taking some of the money and putting it into safe supply, harm reduction, addressing social problems earlier,” he explained.
Police insist they aren’t trying to fear-monger, but instead make Edmontonians aware of what’s happening as they continue efforts to keep the city safe.
“It’s what we’re living in right now, and these messages need to get out, and hopefully it stirred more conversation, and get people involved because it’s taking a toll on all sorts of resources. Social, Alberta Health, policing. We don’t want to see it get to a point where we are losing complete control,” said Deputy Chief Darren Derko, with Community Policing Bureau, Edmonton Police Service.
“I want to ensure citizens that we continue to actively investigate these occurrences, and remain committed to keeping our communities and cities safe”
Derko says the drugs police officers are seeing on the streets are having an effect before adding more people in the inner city carrying more guns and knives.
“We’re managing the chaos right now, we aren’t solving the problem. Healthy Streets won’t solve the issues we are seeing in Edmonton, but it is making a difference. We are managing the chaos,” said Derko.
“Our main objective is to keep our communities safe, but it’s getting harder and harder to do that.”
