deadmonton 2006 - varnado stobbs
Varnado Stobbs, 28, was shot to death October 6th, 2006.
Case status is open and active.
Note: the spelling of the victim's first name was also reported as 'Vernado' and 'Varnardo,' and his age was also reported as 25. A published obituary confirmed his identity as Varnado Garfield Stobbs, age 28. The obituary also lists a variation of 'Varnadao.'
At 3:00 a.m. on October 6th, 2006 a group of partygoers were congregating around the parking lot entrance of the Gingur Sky Lounge at 15505 118 Avenue.
The lounge had just closed when shots rang out. A man in his late-twenties soon lay on the ground bleeding from the chest, suffering from as many as eight bullet wounds according to his friends. A source told CTV Edmonton the man was shot through the heart.
Police and Emergency Medical Services were called.
While police were clearing the scene in case the shooter was still in the area, an ambulance was parked nearby waiting for the go-ahead to enter the parking lot.
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The man's longtime girlfriend, Juliane -- an employee at Gingur Sky, and another friend decided not to wait and took matters into their own hands. They picked up the man and drove him to the Misericordia Hospital in a car.
He was pronounced dead when he arrived.
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Television images from the scene indicate one vehicle, a Jeep, had its rear window shot.
S/Sgt. Fred Anderson said within minutes of arriving, police saw a man wandering down a street with a gun in his hand.
With the assistance of the Air-1 police helicopter, two persons were taken into custody when they were spotted near 154 Street and 116 Avenue. Several of at least a dozen witnesses to the shooting were also questioned at police headquarters.
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A handgun was also recovered along with a spent ammunition clip, both found in a stack of cedar posts in a nearby lumberyard.
Several items, such as a woman's purse, a necklace, lipstick tube and makeup brush, were found within a six-block radius of the nightclub.
“It sounds like there might have been some robbery involved in this," said a police spokesman.
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Gingur Sky nightclub owner Vince Ngu (far left) said he heard later from two women that someone had tried to rob them just before they were leaving the parking lot.
Zack Roz told CTV Edmonton, "My buddy was parked right in front. So he got his chain taken off, his wallet and everything."
Investigators were trying to determine if there was a link between the robbery reports and the shooting.
Police closed down the intersection of 156 Street and 118 Avenue during the early morning rush hour as homicide detectives and the forensic unit continued to investigate. The police gang unit was also called in.
Friends of the victim told media he was 28-year-old Varnado Stobbs, a well-liked Gingur Sky regular described by many as the life of the party.
He was also Edmonton's 27th homicide victim of 2006.
Gingur Sky club owner Vince Ngu described events immediately after the shooting to Global Edmonton.
"We turned him over and I noticed there was blood stains by his chest and we were just trying to open up his mouth and get some air into him."
Referring to the delay in the arrival of an ambulance Ngu said, "A couple of friends decided they couldn't wait anymore. They made the decision to just drive him to the hospital."
Zack Roz described the scene to CTV Edmonton.
"He got shot right in the lungs. The owner of the club came out. The guy who shot him ran away. He got arrested by the cops."
"[The victim] was conscious but he was like bleeding a lot, really seriously. He got put in a f**king BMW and they took him to the hospital."
An unnamed friend of Varnado's said the shooting was sparked by a months-old dispute.
"It was for no reason," she said. "It was a fight that happened a long time ago and some guys decided to (settle) it that night."
On October 8th the Edmonton Sun reported two persons had charges laid against them in connection with the shooting.
Sources told the Sun two men had been charged with robbery. However, police were still looking for the man they feel is responsible for Stobbs' death.
On October 10th, 2006 the city’s medical examiner reported that Stobbs died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Contradicting earlier witness statements, police say only two shots were fired. One bullet struck a black parked Jeep while the other hit Stobbs.
Police also released the names of two men charged in connection with the shooting.
Skylar Chris Lasas, 23, was charged with four counts of armed robbery, pointing a firearm during the commission of an offence, possession of a restricted weapon, and possession of a firearm while prohibited.
Raymond Junior Knife, 24, was charged with armed robbery, possession of stolen property under $5000, and obstruction.
A police spokesman said the men were charged with what the evidence could support, and if further evidence came to light other charges could be laid.
Police are checking with businesses in the strip mall where the Gingur Sky lounge is located to see if there is any surveillance video that could be used in this case.
They also appealed to persons who left the area before police arrived to come forward.
On October 11th the Sun reported that police believed both Stobbs and his killer were in the nightclub at some point during the night. There was no comment with regard to a motive for the shooting.
Kingston, Jamaica-born Varnado Stobbs came to Canada when he was nine. He had two brothers and a sister who lived in Toronto.
The father of two sons and a daughter (aged seven, six and three) was out at the club "night after night."
"He was the only reason people had fun here. He got people going," said a club regular.
Others said they were in shock at the news of Varnado's death and that the police gang unit was involved (now standard protocol in shooting cases).
"He was not a fighter, believe me. I know the police are saying it's gang-related, but I don't think he is gang-affiliated at all."
"He was just a mellow, cool guy. He rolled by himself most of the time. I can't imagine what he could have done to someone," said another.
Although friends admitted Stobbs had a chequered past, CTV Edmonton reported his recent focus was on dancing.
He was considered among the best in the city's new-school reggae dance scene.
Stobbs recently appeared in a music video by Edmonton reggae artist Politic Live.
Ngu said his club was planning to donate money to Stobbs' family to cover funeral expenses.
On October 14th, 2006 over 300 people packed the Cornerstone New Testament Church of God at 9620 109 Avenue for the funeral of Varnado Garfield Hobbs.
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While covering the event, the Edmonton Sun spoke to friends of Stobbs who claimed to know the identity of his killer.
“I know the guy. I’d know him if I saw him. I don’t know his name,” Michael Campbell told the Sun.
Friends said the gunman, who was settling a “minor” dispute over a year old, left town and will never be arrested.
“The police can’t find him. He’s gone,” Campbell said while not providing a description of the man police were looking for.
At the service, Stobbs was remembered for his energy and enthusiasm.
Varnado's brother, Kgosi Stobbs, told how as kids he and his older brother emulated rapper M.C. Hammer, dancing everywhere in parachute pants.
Kgosi told the gathered they wore Hammer's trademark look long after it was out of vogue.
“We still had to wear them because they didn’t have any holes in them,” he said, drawing laughter.
Kgosi urged mourners to replace their anger over the slaying with loving memories of his late brother, a message echoed by Pastor David McNeil.
“The violence must stop. Something is profoundly wrong,” McNeil told the congregation.
“Our young people are crying out for help and we must respond. You have a responsibility to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said pointing to Stobbs’ casket.
In a follow-up story, the Sun reported that Edmonton homicide detectives were frustrated that witnesses weren't willing to come forward to name Stobb's shooter.
“We know someone saw it. We know they know who it is. Please come forward,” homicide Detective Mark Anstey asked Sun readers.
Pastor Dave McNeil said, “Generally speaking, I think people are often afraid for their lives.”
“We don’t want to see another death. We don’t want to see another funeral."
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The Gingur Sky Lounge was the scene of another shooting earlier in 2006.
On August 6th police responded to reports of up to 12 shots being fired inside the club.
Police found shell casings and "other evidence of gunplay," but they didn't find any victims or co-operative witnesses.
However, owner Vince Ngu said his ten-month-old business is being unfairly tainted and that the summer shooting occured after hours and in an alley behind the club.
Ngu said the club has strict security, with metal detectors at the door, and cautions his patrons not to hang around after closing time.
A source told Global Edmonton that police had been called to the club "many times" in the past.
The August shooting is still under investigation.