The late afternoon sun washes over Metis Trail in northeast Calgary, casting long shadows across the pavement where I’m meeting with the Reyes family. Their eyes are rimmed red, voices occasionally breaking as they share memories of 20-year-old Samuel Reyes, tragically killed in a downtown stabbing incident last weekend.
“He was the light in our family,” says Maria Reyes, Samuel’s mother, clutching a framed photograph of her son. “Always making jokes, always helping everyone. Now there’s just emptiness.”
The fatal incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. Saturday near 7th Avenue and 1st Street S.W., an area bustling with late-night activity as bars closed. According to Calgary Police Service reports, a confrontation between two groups escalated quickly, resulting in Samuel being stabbed multiple times. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at Foothills Medical Centre.
“We’re seeing an alarming pattern of violence in our downtown core,” Detective James Morrison tells me during our interview at CPS headquarters. “This marks our fourth homicide involving edged weapons in the downtown area this year alone.”
The statistics Morrison shared are troubling. Violent crime in Calgary’s downtown has increased 17% compared to the same period last year, with weapon-related incidents showing the sharpest rise.
Samuel’s father, Robert Reyes, struggles to maintain composure as he describes the moment police officers arrived at their doorstep. “You never think it will be your child. Never. He was just out with friends celebrating a birthday.”
Two suspects were taken into custody Sunday evening, according to CPS. Marcus Williams, 22, faces second-degree murder charges, while another individual, whose name cannot be released due to age restrictions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, faces accessory charges.
Samuel was studying business at SAIT with dreams of opening his own restaurant. His older sister, Carolina, shows me his course notes, meticulously organized with colorful tabs. “He was so determined,” she says. “That’s what makes this so cruel – all his potential just… gone.”
The Reyes family immigrated to Calgary from the Philippines twelve years ago, part of the vibrant Filipino community that has enriched our city’s cultural landscape. Samuel was the first in his family to pursue post-secondary education, working part-time at a local grocery store to help fund his studies.
Community response has been swift and heartfelt. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Samuel’s classmates has already raised over $23,000 to help the family with funeral expenses. A candlelight vigil is planned for Thursday evening at Olympic Plaza.
“We’re overwhelmed by Calgary’s kindness,” Maria says, “but we still want answers. Why was he targeted? Why are our streets becoming so dangerous?”
It’s a question many Calgarians are asking. Councilor Terry Wong, whose ward includes parts of downtown, expressed serious concerns about public safety when I spoke with him yesterday.
“We’ve allocated additional resources to downtown policing in this year’s budget,” Wong explained, “but clearly more needs to be done. Each tragedy like this demands we reassess our approach to urban safety.”
CPS Chief Mark Neufeld announced yesterday that downtown patrols will be increased immediately, with special attention to late-night hours when bars and clubs close.
For criminologist Dr. Irene Shankar from Mount Royal University, these incidents reflect broader societal issues. “What we’re seeing isn’t simply a policing problem,” she explained during our phone conversation. “It’s connected to affordable housing shortages, mental health support gaps, and reduced community programming.”
As darkness falls, the Reyes family invites me to view a small memorial they’ve created in their living room. Samuel’s basketball trophies, his SAIT acceptance letter, and dozens of photos documenting a life cut tragically short.
“No family should experience this,” Robert says quietly. “We want justice for Samuel, but we also want change. Real change that makes our city safer.”
The family will attend a court appearance for the accused later this week. Meanwhile, CPS continues investigating whether the attack was targeted or random, with Detective Morrison emphasizing that several witnesses have yet to come forward.
As Calgary grapples with this latest tragedy, the Reyes family’s grief stands as a stark reminder of violence’s ripple effects throughout our community. Their pain demands not just our sympathy, but substantive action to address the growing concerns about downtown safety.
For those wishing to support the Reyes family or share information about the incident, CPS has established a dedicated line at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers.
I’ll be following this case as it moves through our justice system, and examining broader questions about downtown safety in coming weeks.
