Man found guilty of 1st-degree murder in 2022 northwest Edmonton mass shooting

Edmonton police at the scene of a mass shooting that happened near 118 Avenue and 125 Street on Saturday March 12, 2022. (CTV News Edmonton)

A man has been found guilty of first degree murder in the 2022 mass shooting that occurred at Ertale Lounge in northwest Edmonton.

Court documents say Samatar Mohiadin had been charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Imbert George, seven counts of aggravated assault, one count of intentionally discharging a firearm while being reckless, and one count of being an occupant of a motor vehicle in which he knew there was a firearm.

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At approximately 2:45 a.m. on March 12, 2022, four men opened fire at Ertale Lounge in the area of 118 Avenue and 124 Street.

In an Oct. 31 decision, Court of King’s Bench Justice Eric Macklin said at least 66 shots were fired, injuring seven and killing one.

The men fled in a red Ford Focus. After a brief pursuit, officers arrested Mohamod Mohamod and Said Ibrahim, who also face first-degree murder charges.

Police in Winnipeg arrested Mohiadin on Dec. 3, 2021 in a drug trafficking and firearms investigation and transported him to Edmonton after officers identified him as a suspect in the shooting.

While there were no eye witnesses identifying Mohiadin as one of the four shooters, DNA evidence suggested otherwise.

Mohiadin’s defence upheld that DNA profiles found on a jacket and balaclava found in the back seat of the Focus merely indicated that his skin cells came into contact with the items and do not prove that Mohiadin was wearing the items, said court documents.

Macklin said the samples on the jacket and balaclava were found on the inside of the garments, indicating that Mohiadin was wearing them.

“The DNA samples were deposited on the inside of these two items because Mr. Mohiadin had been wearing them,” wrote Hacklin in his decision. “There is no other rational or logical conclusion that can be drawn from the evidence.”

Macklin identified Mohiadin as the shooter who fired 16 shots at and near the Ertale Lounge and fled on foot.

“Mr. Mohiadin and the other three gunmen planned and deliberated a mass shooting at and near the Ertale Lounge,” said Macklin. “They each intended to shoot and cause bodily harm to as many people as possible. Mr. Mohiadin and the others each knew that death would be the likely result.”

There was no information available about a sentencing date.

Alinur Mohamed Mussa was arrested and charged in the lounge shooting as well as another that took place at the Duggan Community Hall in August 2021.

Saed Osman is still at large with a Canada-wide warrant out for his arrest in connection to the shooting as well as dozens of other warrants. He sits fourth on Canada’s 25 Most Wanted list and is affiliated with the Go Getem Gang.