Independent Review to be Conducted in Case of Calgary Shooting: Victim Identified as Rami Hajj Ali

By | November 30, 2023

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Accident – Death – Obituary News : Alberta RCMP to conduct independent review of dropped charges in Calgary shooting case

The Alberta RCMP will be conducting an independent review of the events that led to two teen brothers being charged with homicide following a daylight shooting in Calgary’s Marlborough neighbourhood, charges that were later dropped by the Calgary Police Service when video evidence came forward.

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CPS Chief Mark Neufeld confirmed the federal police involvement at Wednesday’s Calgary Police Commission meeting.

“They’ve agreed to take that on for us,” he said. “What we’d be looking at is just the chain of events that led up to investigators believing they had reasonable and probable grounds to lay charges for the homicide.”

“As part of that, also, we’ll look at the issue of whether or not there was any evidence or concerns relative to racial profiling involved in the situation as well.”

Neufeld said the terms of reference for the independent review were still being finalized, and that the RCMP report would inform any changes of Calgary police procedures.

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On Nov. 13, police responded to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of the Trans Canada Centre in Marlborough, where they found the body of a man later identified as 23-year-old Rami Hajj Ali. They also found two other people suffering from gunshot wounds.

The next day, police announced charges had been laid against two brothers, aged 14 and 18, that included first-degree murder, attempted murder, and accessory to murder after the fact.

After investigators received and verified new video evidence, they immediately informed Crown prosecutors, who filed to stay the charges.

Neufeld “unreservedly” apologized to the brothers on Nov. 21.

On Wednesday, the police chief said homicide investigators “will be their hardest critics.”

“If there’s any lessons to be learned here that they can take away, they’re as keen as anybody to take those away,” Neufeld said.

“I’m proud of the work they do and I want to keep them focused on murders.”

The independent review by the Alberta RCMP aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the events leading up to the charges being laid against the teen brothers. It will also examine any potential evidence of racial profiling in the case. The review’s findings will inform any necessary changes to Calgary police procedures.

The shooting, which took place in the parking lot of the Trans Canada Centre in Marlborough, resulted in the death of 23-year-old Rami Hajj Ali. Two other individuals were also injured in the incident.

Initially, the Calgary Police Service announced charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and accessory to murder after the fact against the two teenage brothers. However, new video evidence prompted the Crown prosecutors to stay the charges.

CPS Chief Mark Neufeld offered a sincere apology to the brothers for the wrongful charges on November 21. He emphasized that the homicide investigators will critically evaluate their own actions and strive to learn from any mistakes made.

The independent review by the Alberta RCMP will ensure a thorough examination of the case, allowing for a better understanding of the events that led to the charges being laid. It will also address concerns of racial profiling, if any, and propose necessary changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Calgary Police Commission is still finalizing the terms of reference for the review, and the RCMP report will play a crucial role in shaping Calgary police procedures moving forward.

Neufeld expressed his confidence in the work of the homicide investigators and reiterated his commitment to keeping them focused on solving murders. He emphasized the importance of learning from this case to improve investigative practices and prevent wrongful charges in the future.

The independent review by the Alberta RCMP is a significant step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in this case. The findings of the review will provide valuable insights into the chain of events that led to the charges and will help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future..