Chased driver runs for his life
Jason van Rassel
Calgary Herald
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Someone in an SUV fired at least four shots at a man who had to run for his life after crashing his car during a desperate attempt to flee his attackers.
While police have yet to find the suspects involved in Saturday's early-morning shooting downtown, investigators have already narrowed their focus.
"It wasn't random and it's believed to be gang-related," said District 1 Det. Dave Perkins.
The victim and two female passengers were headed north on the Centre Street Bridge at about 2:20 a.m. when a light-coloured or silver SUV pulled alongside their Honda Civic.
Police said someone in the SUV fired two shots at the Honda, hitting it in the windshield and on the passenger side.
The Honda driver made a sudden U-turn to evade his attackers and headed south on the bridge, back toward downtown.
He crashed into a building on the southwest corner of Centre Street S. and 2nd Avenue when he lost control while trying to turn right, Perkins said.
The occupants of the SUV, meanwhile, gave chase and fired two more shots at the Honda driver as the frightened man ran from his crippled vehicle.
"It turned and followed and the (car) driver fled on foot and two additional shots were fired at him," said Perkins.
The shots missed their intended target, though one round hit a parked car.
The man and his two passengers were not injured.
Saturday's incident is the third shooting with likely gang involvement in less than two months.
The Calgary police gang unit is assisting the investigation into the latest shooting, but Perkins wouldn't say if it's linked to any of the previous incidents.
On Oct. 21, an assailant on a motorcycle fired several shots at two men in an SUV parked in front of the Top Chin restaurant at 6208 Rundlehorn Dr. N.E. An 18-year-old man in the SUV suffered a gunshot wound to his thigh. Although investigators suspect that shooting is gang-related, they believe the targets were victims of mistaken identity.
On Sept. 19, a man fired several rounds at two men in the parking lot of the Central Landmark mall at 1623 Centre St. N. No one was wounded, but one man broke his arm while running away.
Police are seeking help from the public in locating the occupants of an SUV involved in Saturday's shooting, who are believed to be Asian males.
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Shooting last night
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I'm so glad man 
