Witnesses recount double murder
SUN MEDIA
Witnesses to the aftermath of a double homicide downtown say the motive was likely drug-related. The stabbings took place Friday night near the 5 Ave. flyover — an area frequented by drug dealers and users — in the midst of a street church sermon and weekly gathering.
Rev. Artur Pawlowski, who heads up the street church outside the Calgary Drop-In Centre, said around 9:15 p.m., a woman yelled for him to call 911 because there had been a stabbing.
“I ran over and saw a woman kneeling beside a man who was fighting for his life,” said Pawlowski.
“He had a huge gash on his side and tried to raise himself up but then he went so fast.” About six metres away lay the body of a second man, bleeding profusely from his neck, said Pawlowski.
“He had blood all over his face,” he said.
“A woman was trying to give him CPR but he was already dead.
“The stabbings were so severe they had no chance.”
There are no suspects in custody, say cops.
However, witnesses at the scene Friday night say they saw a man, with blood on his shirt, fleeing just moments after the call came in to police.
Just prior to their deaths, the two men had picked up food from the street church’s barbecue but quickly returned to the area beneath the flyover, said Pawlowski.
He said witnesses claim a fight, involving the two men and others, broke out — likely over drugs.
Dermot Baldwin, executive director of the drop-in centre, said he’s waiting to hear from police whether the men are his clients.
Baldwin said they gave police all the surveillance video taken from outside the centre.
“We need all the help we can get,” he said.
“We’ve had enormous problems with the dealers over three for the last two years.”
Police say they have identified the victims and are trying to notify their next of kin.
Acting Staff Sgt. Chris Matthews said autopsies for both men are scheduled for early next week.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.