Homicide victim found in ditch had a criminal history

The man found dead in a south side ditch was identified by police as Amir Ahmed Qureshi, 25, shown here in an undated photo. Supplied.

Following an autopsy Thursday morning, police have confirmed the identity of the man found dead in a south side ditch Wednesday morning – and his death has been confirmed as a homicide.

Police said Amir Ahmed Qureshi, 25, died as a result of a gunshot wound.

Qureshi’s body was found in a ditch in the area of Meridian Street and Ellerslie Road at about 9 a.m. Wednesday by city workers who had been spraying for mosquitos.

After police were called, a section of road was closed off for several hours while investigators gathered evidence.

Now, police are trying to work out exactly what happened in Qureshi’s last hours.

“There are citizens out there who know what happened to Amir,” Insp. Kevin Brezinski with the EPS Major Crimes Unit said. “We’re urging all witnesses to come forward with any information you may have.

“Amir Qureshi’s family deserves some closure.”

Police are also asking for help in finding a red, four-door 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer with an Alberta license plate GWA 322 – officers said the car is associated with the victim, and his family, and it’s believed he was driving it.

An EPS inspector said they’re also asking for anyone who was in contact with the victim earlier this week to contact them.

“We believe that friends and family spoke with the victim on Tuesday,” EPS Major Crimes Insp. Kevin Brezinski said in a press release. “We are asking anyone who may have had any contact with Qureshi, or any member of the public who may have seen him or the vehicle on Tuesday, to contact police.”

However, the man police identified as the city’s seventh homicide victim of 2013 was not a stranger to police, he had pleaded guilty to charges laid against him in the firebombing of a Mill Woods home with a Molotov cocktail in 2008.

The incident was part of a long-standing feud at the time, between two groups of young people.

Then, in 2012, he pleaded guilty to new drug-related charges, and was fined – however, police wouldn’t talk about his history.

“I don’t want to get into the victim’s background,” Brezinski said. “I’m really more concentrated on the people who are responsible for this crime.”

The Gang Unit is not involved in the investigation.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call the Edmonton Police Service non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or #377 on a mobile phone.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from Veronica Jubinville