Police investigating homicide in Dover

Although details are limited, homicide investigators say they are dealing with a murder in the southeast community of Dover.

Calgary police first arrived at a property on Dovertree Place S.E. late Sunday night and kept a tight lid on the backyard, which was apparently the location of a large bonfire.

“I just walked by and there was a fire pit going right after that snow storm and thought it was kind of weird, but not too weird. I went home and about my business,” Drew Riley, who lives nearby, described.

“The next morning, the place was taped off, no cops around, just the ones blocking the alley, so I went to work. It wasn’t strange, but I noticed it [the fire]; it was a little odd.

“It’s kind of spooky, especially walking past the fire pit and knowing they were doing something more sinister.”

Riley says it’s not a bad neighbourhood and most of the problems there involve domestics or break-ins, but this has made it a little unnerving for him.

“Anything can happen just about anywhere, I feel a little uneasy not knowing exactly what happened there. It seems a little stranger than normal.”

Chaz Smith lives down the alley.

“There’s been lots of police presence, this whole area’s been blocked off for a couple days now,” he explained. “I would say this surprises me, but this year in Dover, we’ve had so many shootings, cars on fire, different things every week at least. It’s hard because you don’t want to get too scared in your own neighbourhood, but you kind of filter, just to protect yourself.”

Yasmin Hussein lives a few doors down and has four children.

“We haven’t seen much,” she said. “We’ve only seen the police holding the scene. We’ve asked questions but people aren’t saying anything.

“In this neighbourhood? I’m not surprised. There’s shootings, break-ins and lots of stuff.”

Hussein says they recognize the people who live there, but she doesn’t know them personally.

She says she’s been keeping her children at home to keep them as safe.

Police are maintaining the public is not at risk and they have people in custody.

Homicide investigators are planning to update the media on Wednesday.