ARRESTED: Wanted for second-degree murder and kidnapping
The final outstanding suspect in the June murder of Benjamin VIRTUCIO is now in custody and all three accused are now before the court on charges of second-degree murder and kidnapping with a firearm.
At approximately 8:10 p.m., on Friday, June 5, 2020, police were called to Eau Claire Market, located at 200 Barclay Parade S.W., for reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, we located the 29-year-old victim deceased in the underground parkade, along with clear indications a shooting had occurred in the public parkade. Homicide investigators believe this was a targeted attack, with connections to drug trafficking.
On Saturday, June 6, 2020, Abdullaihi BARAKOBE, 26, was arrested in Calgary. A residence in the Airdrie community of Hillcrest was subsequently searched on the following Sunday in connection with the investigation.
On Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Canada-wide warrants were issued for Mahad BARAKOBE, 27, and Mehdi (also known as Eddy) AL KHOUZAII, 22. AL KHOUZAII was subsequently located and taken into custody on June 16.
Yesterday, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, we located the third suspect, Mahad BARAKOBE, brother to Abdullaihi BARAKOBE, in Calgary and brought him into custody.
All three suspects remain in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 2021.
We would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance in this investigation.
Case #20222407/3417