Calgary police are on the scene of a homicide in the city\u2019s Woodlands community early Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Around 5:40 a.m., officers responded to a serious assault in the 2100 block of Woodview Drive S.W. Police believe the victim was injured during the assault, and had succumbed to their injuries by the time police arrived.<\/p>\n
Investigators do not believe the incident was random. No suspects are in custody so far, and police were unable to confirm the number of people involved.<\/p>\n
Helena Erkamps, who lives in the area, witnessed the argument-turned-assault early Wednesday morning. Erkamps said four people were \u201ctalking aggressively,\u201d with two people in particular getting angry, and it kept escalating with one person involved claiming the other did something to their brother.<\/p>\n
Erkamps said the argument was so loud it woke her up, then eventually the voices diminished.<\/p>\n
In her over 15 years living in the area, Erkamps said crime has increased. She said people often try car doors, checking to see if they\u2019re unlocked, as well as impersonate people when knocking on house doors.<\/p>\n
Related<\/p>\n
Much of this happens in the middle of the night, according to Erkamps. She said one elderly couple in the neighbourhood has been victim to people throwing rocks at their house windows.<\/p>\n
Annette Wilhelm, who lives nearby, said she heard shouting just before 5 a.m., but couldn\u2019t see the source of the commotion when she looked outside.<\/p>\n
Around 6:30 a.m., she said, her husband noticed police had taped off a section of the street, and shortly afterward, they were told there had been a homicide. Wilhelm said she was shocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in the neighbourhood for probably over 30 years now,\u201d she said. \u201cSomething like this really doesn\u2019t happen in the area . . . The neighbourhood is relatively quiet, peaceful, people are friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given that the incident seemed to have been targeted, she said it hasn\u2019t affected her perception of the area\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll just be a little more watchful after something happens like this,\u201d she said, adding that her heart goes out to the friends and family of the victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s shocking. You never want to hear about something like that happening in your own neighbourhood or on your own block,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Brianne Lastwika, who moved to the area from Regina, said she\u2019s always felt it is a safe neighbourhood, but living around the corner from a pub, a convenience store, a liquor store and a vape shop brings quite a bit of foot traffic, and occasionally some \u201cmiscreants.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA year and a half ago, a bunch of us had our tires slashed by some young offenders. They were found right away,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s just a lot of youth that seem to be up to petty things.\u201d<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t hear or see anything Wednesday morning, and was surprised that her dogs didn\u2019t, either, but said she was comforted by how quickly police arrived at the scene.<\/p>\n
A section of Woodview Drive between Woodhill Court and Woodpark Boulevard was closed Wednesday morning, as well as access to the strip mall located at 523 Woodpark Blvd. S.W., but both areas have since been reopened.<\/p>\n