People in the Ottawa Community Housing neighborhood told CBC they heard several gunshots. Multiple calls to 911 were made at approximately 12:40 p.m Police and paramedics responded to the scene along Banff Avenue, not far from Ledbury Avenue — steps away from the Banff Avenue Community House that offers year-round programming for children and other essential services. Charles Pereira, who lives in a nearby apartment building, said he was just getting off the phone when he heard the shots. He went to the scene and saw the police cruisers pulling up. “I noticed a gentleman laying on the pavement…he was bleeding too [first responders] they were trying to… resurrect him,” he said. The victim, 24-year-old Abdulhamid Haji Ragab, was rushed to The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus trauma center in critical condition. Police confirmed Thursday that he had died. No arrests have been made and no information on possible suspects has been released. The homicide unit is asking any witnesses to contact investigators by calling 613-236-1222, ext. 5421. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.
Another shot 1 day later
Almost exactly 24 hours later, another man was shot and seriously injured in another Ottawa community neighborhood on Ritchie Street in Britannia. The victim, a 26-year-old man, was taken to a trauma center with abdominal injuries, paramedics said. Police said Thursday that he remains in hospital in critical condition. No arrests have been made, and no information on possible suspects has been released. The Guns and Gangs Unit is investigating. The two incidents are unrelated, police said.
