‘He was a protector:’ Man shot outside club was defending friend
Posted Oct 14, 2021 6:47 am.
Last Updated Oct 14, 2021 8:26 pm.
CALGARY – A man shot and killed outside a downtown Calgary nightclub Sunday was defending his female friend at the time, police say.
It happened around 2:40 a.m. outside Junction Underground nightclub on 8 Avenue southwest near 6 Street.
Police say the victim, 31-year-old John Smith, was with a woman when two men started making unwanted sexual advances and physical contact with her.
Smith intervened at which point a fight occurred and a gun was pulled.
Smith was shot and killed on scene. The gunman’s friend was also shot but drove himself to the hospital.
Police say Smith came to Calgary to play college basketball.
He was on the SAIT Trojans team last season.
Police say Smith volunteered countless hours helping make Calgary a better place, and detectives will do everything they can to bring his killer to justice.
The hunt for the shooter
Police are asking anyone who may have been in the area and has dashcam footage or may have witnessed the shooting to come forward and call them or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers.
The suspect they’re looking for is under six feet tall with a tattoo on his neck and dark wavy hair. He was wearing a white Nike tracksuit top, blue jeans, and white runners.
Detectives have shared a handful of CCTV photos in hopes someone will be able to identify him.
Police are also looking for a black Mercedes sedan with BC license plates in connection to the shooting.
It is believed this is the car that the second man drove himself to the hospital in, but police say he has been uncooperative in the investigation.
Family, friends mourn loss of ‘brilliant’, ‘authentic’ man
Smith’s family is remembering him as a loving brother, son, and friend.
“He had a heart of gold, was brilliant, funny, talented, driven, and authentically himself. He was truly a revolutionary embodiment of Black joy. He made everyone around him feel seen, heard and empowered to self-love,” his family writes in a statement.
“He was a protector.”
“John excelled on and off the court. He was a mentor and trainer to youth in the States and Calgary. He was also the President of the Black & Indigenous Student Union and a budding model. He planned on returning to SAIT to finish his degree in Business Administration and play his final season of basketball.”
The family says that a huge piece is missing now that Smith has passed and the family will forever be fractured.
“He carried himself in such a way that he attracted anybody to him. If you did know him or didn’t know him, he was a person who would talk to anybody,” said Pat Boulin, the Senior Assistant Coach of the SAIT Trojans men’s basketball team.
Smith had moved to Calgary from Washington to play basketball at SAIT and made a mark as a star player on the Trojans.
“Once he arrived, we started winning championships. He won lots of awards but it really started with day one of practice .. he really brought a level of competition and expectation,” said Head Coach of the basketball team Marty Birky.
Boulin says Smith was more than just a player to him and his character was front and centre in a game the team played against Red Deer.
“We came out of the huddle, and he said don’t worry I got this and I rolled my eyes and said ‘whatever’. I remember he hit a deep three just with three seconds left and won us a game and looked at me and gave me a little wink,” Boulin said.
– With files from Taylor Braat
