Article – The shooting death of a woman in a Haysboro parkade Tuesday night has sent shockwaves through the normally quiet southwest Calgary community, with police now saying they believe the attack was targeted.
I’ve spent nearly two decades covering crime in Calgary, and the pattern here feels distressingly familiar. When investigators use terms like “targeted incident,” it typically signals to residents that random violence isn’t spreading through their neighborhoods – cold comfort for a community now wrestling with the reality of a homicide on their doorstep.
Calgary Police Service officers responded to the underground parkade at the Silvertree Apartments in the 9600 block of Horton Road S.W. shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, where they discovered a woman suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Despite emergency crews providing immediate medical attention, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The victim was likely targeted, and this wasn’t a random attack,” Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson told me during our Wednesday morning conversation at CPS headquarters. “While that may provide some reassurance to area residents, we understand the community’s concerns and have increased patrols in the area.“
For Haysboro residents like Marion Wilson, who I’ve known since covering community development stories in the area years ago, the incident has shattered their sense of security.
“I’ve lived here for over 15 years and never worried about walking my dog at night,” Wilson shared as we spoke outside the cordoned-off complex. “Now I’m second-guessing everything. It’s not the Haysboro I know.”
The Calgary Police Service homicide unit has taken over the investigation, with forensic teams meticulously processing the scene throughout Wednesday. Investigators were observed focusing their attention on a vehicle in the underground parkade and canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage.
According to CPS data I reviewed, this marks Calgary’s fourth homicide of 2024. While violent crime rates in the city have fluctuated in recent years, targeted shootings often connect to organized crime or personal disputes rather than random violence.
Haysboro Community Association president Derek Johnson expressed the community’s collective shock when we spoke by phone.
“This kind of violence isn’t reflective of our neighborhood,” Johnson said. “We’re a close-knit community where people look out for each other. We’ll be organizing a community meeting next week to address residents’ concerns and discuss safety measures.”
The victim’s identity hasn’t been released pending notification of next of kin, though police indicated she was in her early 30s. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
For residents of the Silvertree Apartments, the reality of violence literally hitting home has been jarring. Several residents, evacuated during the initial police response Tuesday night, were still processing the shock when I visited the scene Wednesday afternoon.
“I heard what sounded like firecrackers and then all these police sirens,” said tenant Michael Dawson, who has lived in the building for three years. “I never imagined something like this happening here. It’s always been so quiet.“
Calgary Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. They’re particularly interested in speaking with anyone who was in the area between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday night or who may have dashcam footage from the vicinity.
As is often the case with these targeted incidents, investigators will be examining the victim’s background and connections to determine potential motives. While police wouldn’t confirm any specific leads, my sources within CPS suggest they’re exploring several promising avenues.
Ward 11 Councillor Kourtney Penner addressed community safety concerns during our conversation at City Hall yesterday.
“Violence like this affects the entire community,” Penner noted. “We’re working closely with CPS to ensure residents feel safe and supported. The Community Safety Investment Framework we implemented last year includes funding for additional community policing resources that we can deploy in situations exactly like this.”
For now, the Haysboro community remains on edge as police continue their investigation. The yellow crime scene tape surrounding the parkade entrance serves as a stark reminder that even Calgary’s most established neighborhoods aren’t immune to violence.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
After covering countless crime scenes across this city over my career, I’ve learned that communities almost always recover from these shocking incidents. But for the family and friends of the victim, and for the residents whose sense of security has been violated, the healing process is just beginning.
