Suspect in Fatal Calgary Police Shootout Facing Charges in Two Previous Shootings

Calgary Police Service officers examine a bullet-riddled car at the scene where a colleague was shot and injured and a suspect was killed, in Calgary on Oct. 18, 2023. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

A Calgary Police Service (CPS) police officer suffered a gunshot wound while executing a high-risk arrest warrant in northeast Calgary at a local strip mall on Oct. 18. The suspect was allegedly involved in two brazen afternoon shootings that occurred in late September, culminating in the arrest attempt, CPS said.

Thanh Nguyen, 25, of Calgary, is in custody and faces multiple charges including one count each of attempted murder, discharge of a firearm with intent, possession of stolen property over $5,000, unlawful possession of a firearm in a vehicle, unlawful possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, and possession of a restricted firearm contrary to a prohibition order, according to an Oct. 19 CPS news release.

Mr. Nguyen will make an initial court appearance on Oct. 27.

The first shooting took place Sept. 30, after a motorist called police to report a shooting that had occurred between two vehicles driving on westbound Glenmore Trail, a busy Calgary road. Before police arrived, both vehicles had left the scene.

According to the CPS news release on Oct. 2, about 30 minutes later, police were called to a home in the southeast Calgary neighbourhood of Seton, with reports that a male had been shot while parking his vehicle. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was transported to hospital in serious condition, and police said he remained uncooperative with the investigation.

“It is believed that the suspect fired multiple rounds during the shooting in Seton, with stray bullets striking four surrounding residences, before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle,” said CPS.

Calgary Police Service officers at the scene where a colleague was shot and injured and a suspect was killed, in Calgary on Oct. 18, 2023. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

‘Blatant Disregard for Public Safety’

Police said the shootings were connected and targeted the same individual.

“The level of violence and blatant disregard for public safety that these offenders demonstrated is extremely concerning and will not be tolerated,” said Staff Sergeant Roland Stewart of the CPS’s Organized Crime Response Unit in the news release.

“While both of these incidents were targeted, the safety of innocent bystanders was put at risk on Saturday, and we know many Calgarians are also alarmed. We’ve dedicated resources from across our Service to investigate these shootings and asking anyone with information or dashcam from the area to come forward.”

In the Oct. 19 news release, CPS said investigators had determined that both the suspects and victim are associated with rival organized crime groups in Calgary.

The CPS police tactical unit on Oct. 18 was attempting to arrest two suspects believed to be involved in the shootings in September, in the Falconridge neighbourhood in the McKnight Village Shopping Centre parking lot. One of the suspects fired at one of the officers, allegedly with a loaded handgun.

One suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and the police officer who was shot, an 11-year veteran officer, sustained injuries and was transported to hospital in stable condition.

Police arrested a second suspect and retrieved a loaded handgun he possessed. The next day, police executed a search warrant for the suspect’s vehicle and seized two more loaded handguns.

“I know it’s been a super traumatic and it’s a scary incident,” said CPS police chief Mark Neufeld in a video message posted to social media on Oct. 20. “It’s interesting as we come out to try to support the community and try to help people through the incident, at the same time, they’re turning around and they’re helping us. “