Police increasing presence near gang violence hotspot

Days after a 31-year-old man was murdered nearby, Saskatoon police are stepping up their presence near St. Paul’s Hospital.

Police said in a release Friday that they would continue to have an increased presence after “recent violent activity in the area.”

Mark Enwaya was found dead in an Avenue Q alley on Tuesday, not far from 20th Street. Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, were charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

On Thursday, targeted enforcement Staff Sgt. Grant Obst warned that innocent bystanders were getting caught up in escalating gang violence in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood.

“The fact that we’ve got these shootings happening, and in some cases innocent people getting hurt, that certainly causes concern,” he said.

Rumours among gang circles have indicated the recent shootings may have been part of a gang initiation mission.

When asked Friday about the concerning violence, Premier Scott Moe alluded to potential funding for prevention coming in the spring budget.

“We’re having a conversation about what are the root causes to not just gang violence but all violence,” he said, noting sustained police enforcement and support is needed for community groups to be successful.

The teenagers charged in Enwaya’s murder are due back in court on Monday.

Editor’s note — a previous version of this story attributed rumours of a gang initiation to a representative from Str8 Up. There has since been clarification from the organization that this insinuation was not intended.