Abdullah Shah’s death investigated as a homicide; police searching for suspect vehicle

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Edmonton police say they are investigating Abdullah Shah’s death as a homicide, and they’re searching for a suspected vehicle in the notorious city landlord’s shooting.

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At a news conference Wednesday, Det. Jared Buhler said the Edmonton Police Service is searching for a medium-sized gray SUV that was caught on video pulling up to Shah’s Haddow home immediately before the shooting Sunday night. Police are still in the process of confirming the car’s exact make and model.

Buhler said police believe whoever was in the car was “lying in wait,” watching Shah’s home before Shah pulled into his driveway on Heath Road, where he was ambushed with multiple gunshots.

An autopsy is set for Friday, but Buhler said they expect Shah’s death to be confirmed as a homicide.

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“This was a brazen and targeted shooting in a residential area, which placed the community at significant risk.”

Shah, who was also known as Carmen Pervez, died in hospital early Monday morning. Last summer, he survived being shot in the head at one of her businesses.

He was part of a group that owned residential real estate in central Edmonton that many neighbors complained were a source of crime and disorder. One property, owned by an associate, was the scene of back-to-back drug-related homicides in 2017.

Buhler said investigators believe the suspect car in this case was waiting a short distance east on Haddow Crescent before the shooting. After it sped away from the scene, it turned south on Riverbend Road and then may have driven east on 23 Avenue or headed south or north on Terwillegar Drive.

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Police aren’t sure how long the car may have been parked, and they’re asking for anyone who may have seen it, or who has video of it, to come forward. Another unknown is whether there were multiple people in the car or just one.

“If people are checking their phones, check as far back as you want. Anything is potentially relevant. (The suspect car) could have been waiting days before for the right opportunity,” Buhler said.

EPS is also seeking dashcam footage from any cars driving on the roads where the car may have been between 9:55 pm and 10:05 pm Sunday.

Buhler said Shah’s family members were home at the time of the shooting, but no one else was injured.

I have noted this incident, combined with a mass shooting outside a lounge in north Edmonton early Saturday morning, makes two serious shootings within 48 hours in Edmonton. But he added investigators are “pretty confident” the violence isn’t related.

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Shah, 59, was a well-known crime figure in Edmonton, having been sentenced to five years in prison in 2008 for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme, and more recently handed a 15-month conditional sentence for pressing associates in the Edmonton Remand Center to carry out a “hit” on a former employee.

At the time of his death he was facing charges related to fentanyl trafficking.

Buhler said police are treating this homicide investigation just like any other.

“Obviously, the community, the media, are well-aware of Mr. Shah’s profile.”

Police made an appeal earlier this week for residential CCTV or dashcam footage from anyone driving in the area of ​​Riverbend Road and Heath Road between 9:30 and 10:30 pm They’ve now spoken with the driver of a light-coloured Toyota 4Runner that drove past the suspect car just before the shooting, and they determined it isn’t related to the investigation.

Anyone who may have information about the case can contact police at 780-423-4567 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

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Twitter: @meksmith