Police charge 19-year-old with February shooting downtown Calgary

Calgary police have arrested and charged a 19-year-old with aggravated assault and more than two dozen other charges in connection to a shooting that occurred downtown in February.

Investigators believe a verbal argument took place between two groups of people in a parking lot in the 600 block of 10 Avenue S.E. at around 3 a.m. on Feb. 11. A physical fight broke out and one person fired a handgun, striking one of the other people there.

The suspects fled and police opened an investigation into the shooting. The attack was not considered to be random, but the escalation of a dispute between the two groups, police said.

According to investigators, the three-month investigation was made longer because the victim and witnesses of the shooting wouldn’t cooperate with police.

On Wednesday, Calgary officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the 4800 block of Rundlehorn Drive N.E., seizing 5.7 grams of crack cocaine and 25.1 grams of MDMA.

Suspect charged with 25 counts total

Officers arrested Aberaham Tilahun, 19.

Tilahun is charged with one count of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm with intent, transporting a restricted firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, personation with intent to avoid arrest and possession of cocaine. Police also charged Tilahun with three counts of weapons prohibition order and 12 counts of breach of release orders.

Tilahun is scheduled to appear in court on Friday and remains in custody.

sbabych@postmedia.com