A man accused of taking part in a deadly shooting outside a lounge in north-central Edmonton has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of 28-year-old Imbert George.
Said Ibrahim, 27, was originally charged with first-degree murder in a 2022 shooting outside the Ertale Lounge, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge Wednesday at the Edmonton Court of King’s Bench.
According to an agreed statement of facts read in court, Ibrahim and three other men discharged 66 rounds of ammunition from four guns outside the lounge at about 2:44 a.m. on March 12, 2022.
George was leaving the lounge with his wife and a friend when the shooting began. The agreed facts say George attempted to take cover but was struck by four bullets, including one to the right side of his forehead.
The gunshot caused damage to his brain and significant bleeding. He also suffered broken teeth, which indicated he collapsed face first on the pavement.
Police officers found George and attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at 5:56 a.m. The cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds.
Seven other people were injured during the shooting that lasted around 21 seconds.
The agreed statement of facts describes the group of men accused of being involved in the attack travelling in a red Ford Focus shortly before the shooting. The vehicle was driven past the lounge before turning around and approaching the area again.
Security cameras captured video of the men getting out of the car and moving toward the lounge.
The shooters then fled the area.
Police later spotted the suspect vehicle from a helicopter following the shooting. Officers attempted to stop it, but the car sped away, leading to a high-speed pursuit.
The agreed facts say firearms and magazines were thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit.
About 17 minutes after police first spotted the car, it slowed and one of the occupants jumped from it. He was identified as Samatar Mohiadin who was arrested and later prosecuted.
Evidence connecting Ibrahim to the shooting included video footage, clothing and DNA evidence.
The agreed facts say Ibrahim was identified as the third shooter, and his clothing was consistent with what was seen on surveillance footage. A black balaclava was recovered from the vehicle.
A semi-automatic handgun thrown from the front passenger window was found with an empty clip. The firearm had a capacity of 32 rounds and had been loaded with a prohibited overcapacity magazine.
The handgun and balaclava tested positive for Ibrahim’s DNA.
Ibrahim’s firearm was found to have fired 29 of the 66 rounds during the shooting.
The agreed facts state Ibrahim and the other shooters formed a common intention to fire at the lounge and that they knew — or were reckless as to whether — their actions would cause death or bodily harm.
The court heard Ibrahim was not licensed to possess firearms and was bound by a no-cash recognizance that prohibited him from possessing weapons or firearms at the time of the shooting.
Ibrahim faces a mandatory life sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. The judge will determine how long he will have to wait before he can apply for parole at sentencing.
The case is one of several criminal proceedings stemming from the Ertale Lounge shooting.
Last year, Mohiadin was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years.
After Mohiadin was sentenced in October, George’s wife Cassandra Matthias said she was pleased with the outcome of the trial.
At the time, Matthias said George was a loving stepfather and uncle and a lifelong learner. She said he had just finished a master of business administration but never got to attend his graduation.
“Just because he’s a Black man that got shot in the head doesn’t mean that he was the one that was targeted,” Matthias said in October. “So he finally got the justice for himself and his name. His name meant a lot to him, and how he portrayed himself meant a lot to him.”
A different man, Mohamod Mohamod, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his role as the getaway driver in the shooting and received an eight-year prison sentence in 2024.
Another man suspected of being involved in the shooting, Saed Osman, is still at large and is the subject of a Canada-wide warrant for first-degree murder.
Ibrahim will be sentenced at a later date where the Crown and defence are expected to present joint sentencing submissions.
His sentencing is expected to include victim impact statements from George’s family, who were present in the courtroom Wednesday.