 Police are looking for a white, four-door BMW in connection with Saturday's fatal shooting in south Edmonton. (SUPPLIED PHOTO) |
EDMONTON - Police say Edmonton’s latest homicide where a man was shot in broad daylight was not a random attack.
Jesse Lee James, 23, of Edmonton, was shot around 3 p.m. Saturday in a residential community around Saddleback Road.
Edmonton police spokeswoman Karen Carlson said James was known to police.
The suspects fled in a 1991-1993 white, four-door BMW car with tinted windows and minor damage to the passenger side, cops said.
An air freshener may have been hanging in the rear-view mirror.
There also may have been a small decal in the top centre of the windshield, investigators said.
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“(James) is known to city police and residents should take comfort in that this is not believed to be random,” said Carlson.
“Information continues to come forward (and) officers have quite a job ahead of them in terms of sifting through information.”
Carlson could not comment on James’ involvement with police and said it isn’t believed he lived in the area.
Sunday evening, about a dozen of James’ friends held a short, informal memorial in the apartment complex parking stall next to where his body was found.
Around 6 p.m., cops asked them to leave and they did so peacefully.
Many wore white T-shirts and some had white towels over their heads or in their pockets.
A friend, who declined to provide his name, said with a chuckle that James was known to wear a white T-shirt and carry around a white towel.
There were also flowers at the scene.
Earlier, one shooting witness who wished to remain anonymous said the crime scene on Saturday was “messed up.”
“I saw his brains all over,” he said.
Nishant Bihole, 10, said he was walking to a friend’s house when he saw two males fighting in a Red Escalade.
“One guy was trying to run away but the other guy with the gun wouldn’t let him go,” said Bihole.
“At the end (as I was walking away), boom — I heard a gun shot.”
Bihole’s father, Naishadh, said the family has lived in the area for three years and has never had any problems.
“(One more) incident like this and we will move to a safer place,” he said. “Our kids are scared.”
Witnesses in the area reported seeing two black males inside the BMW that sped away. Police did not release information on suspects.
The gang and drug units have been notified, however Carlson said that is common in such cases.
Cory Gladue said he was on his way to visit his ex-wife and child around 4 p.m. when he discovered the grisly scene.
“It was eerie — a big tent with legs sticking out of it and blood rolling down,” said Gladue. “It’s pretty horrific to see someone dead like that — it shouldn’t end (that way).”
Police are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity to call cops at (780) 423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
“We are asking for information on the current whereabouts of the vehicle as well as information from anyone who may have seen the vehicle prior to or immediately following the homicide,” said Homicide Section Det. Brian Robertson.
James marks the city’s 18th homicide.
The investigation continues.