Glebe residents and business owners say they have many unanswered questions following last weekend’s shooting at Lansdowne Park.
Ottawa police say their guns and gangs unit is investigating a shooting that happened in the 1000 block of Bank Street at around 2:20 a.m. on Aug. 10.
No injuries were reported and the shootings are considered targeted, police said. In a press release issued that day, police said they found “several bullet casings” on the ground and that there was no current risk to public safety.
By the end of the weekend, police had recovered 25 rounds from the scene, police sources told CBC.
On Friday, police said there was no additional information to provide and the investigation is ongoing.
One individual who works nearby said he heard that there was an altercation at Med Supper Club, a restaurant near Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne on Marché Way.
CBC has agreed not to name him due his fear of retaliation.
He also said he overheard police say two cars entered the area at 2:15 a.m. on Saturday and parked on Paul Askin Way, where occupants fired at one or more people who were leaving the club and walking southwest on Marché Way.
Gunfire damage following the incident appeared to be concentrated on storefronts and lightposts on Marche Way.
Another person working in the area, who also asked not to be named, said police told him that the number of shell casings found and the way they were scattered made them think the “shooter was either high or had never fired a gun before.”
Multiple businesses closed
The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), which programs events at the TD Place stadium arena complex and manages facilities and maintenance throughout the Lansdowne district, declined to provide comment to CBC on the incident.
But in an email to tenants sent at 6:32 a.m. on Aug. 10, OSEG said police were investigating an “altercation between two parties that occurred around 2:15 this morning.”
The email added that “the incident took place at the corner of Service Way and Marché.”
OSEG said that multiple nearby businesses were closed that morning, including Winners, Nespresso, Porsche, Audi, Med Supper Club, Mr. Puffs, Mane Collective and Glebe Physiotherapy and Sport Medicine.
Incident is ‘very rare,’ councillor says
Shawn Menard, city councillor for Capital ward, told CBC over email that he recently went to see the damage. He said he also spoke with the community safety officer and some businesses.
“It’s a very rare thing to happen in that area and I am grateful no one was hurt,” he wrote.
Some nearby businesses who spoke to CBC said police have asked for any CCTV footage relating to the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the guns and gangs unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5050 or GunsGangs@ottawapolice.ca.