Canada police: 1 dead after shooting at New Year's Eve party

Calgary (Canada), Jan 2: Gunfire broke out at a New Year's Eve house party in Calgary, leaving one person dead and six others injured, including one in critical condition, police have said.

Detective Steve Adair said police received multiple calls just after 5 am reporting shots fired at the party attended by more than 50 people. He said by the time officers arrived, the suspect or suspects had already fled. Police found five people in and around the house with gunshot wounds.

Adair said two other people later showed up at hospitals for treatment. Police said they don't know how many suspects are involved and don't have a motive for the shootings. An autopsy was planned for today and the person's identity won't be released until then, police said.

The victim died in a local hospital. Local residents said the gunfire shattered the pre-dawn quiet of the tree-lined neighbourhood.

"All I heard was like this 'pop, pop, pop, pop.' I was half asleep, half awake, and that's all I heard, and I didn't really know what it was so I just went back to sleep," said Nita Nestman, who lives in a condo on the same street. Nestman said the street had been quiet for most of the evening.

Police clueless about motive for the shootings

When she heard the noise she didn't expect it to be gunfire. "It didn't even enter my mind that's what it was," she said. Adair said aside from the one victim in critical condition, the others' injuries ranged from minor to serious. Those shot include both men and women in their 20s or 30s.

A black sweater lay on the sidewalk in front of what appeared to be a newly built house. Snow in the front yard was trampled. A police spokesman called the shooting a "one-off" and suggested there was no danger to others in the city.

"That offense took place because the wrong people congregated in that place," he said. Abdul Rasham el Kadri, who has lived on the street since 1990, said the street, which is a combination of older homes and freshly built townhouses, has never had a problem with loud parties, crime or violence.

PTI