The daughter of an Okotoks town councillor was killed over a dispute she may not even have witnessed, says her father Ed Sands. Amy Sands was killed on Friday, Aug. 31, at a Dover home in Calgary known for partying and tied to organized crime.
The daughter of an Okotoks town councillor was killed over a dispute she may not even have witnessed, says her father Ed Sands.
Amy Sands was killed on Friday, Aug. 31, at a Dover home in Calgary known for partying and tied to organized crime. Neighbours said they heard gunshots at around 6:30 a.m. and when police arrived they found her deceased.
Calgary Police arrested Jesse George Hill, 26, at a house near the scene of the shooting on Friday. They said Hill had been partying in a garage behind the house earlier in the evening and left after an altercation. He returned shortly after and opened fire, say police.
On Wednesday Calgary Police charged Hill with second-degree murder and he appeared in Calgary courtroom Thursday and set the case over until Sept. 19.
Amy's family is relieved there has been an arrest in the case, said Sands.
“It feels like the wheel's of justice are turning,” he said.
Sands, a longtime town councillor, said the details released by police on Wednesday make their daughter's death even more senseless.
Amy may not have even been there when the altercation occurred and didn't know the accused, Sands said.
“She had nothing to do with it,” he said. “We are still trying to wrap our heads around that.”
His daughter was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said.
“What a futile loss of life,” Sands said.
She had gone to the party to be with an ex-boyfriend who had recently been released from jail, Sands said. He said he finds it stunning his daughter was there because she had told him and his wife, Debbie she was afraid of the man and was worried about him getting out of jail.
“She seemed so afraid, so scared of him,” Sands said. “To hear she went to see him was mind-boggling.”
Since the shooting the ex-boyfriend has contacted his wife to apologize.
“He sent my wife a Facebook message,” Sands said. “He said something like 'you might not be able to forgive me.'”
Now that the family knows some of the circumstances of the death they don't feel the same, but he said the situation is still too fresh for forgiveness, Sands said.
“Not yet, I'm still too wrought,” Sands said. “Maybe later.”
He said now that they know their daughter was not the intended target it reinforces the message associating with known criminals can have deadly consequences.
“Don't be with those people,” he said. “No good comes of it.”
Amy had a long history of drug use and had been living a high-risk lifestyle, Sands said.
People are already getting the message about being more vigilant with one's children, he said.
“I've seen on Facebook people saying they are telling their kids that,” he said.
Sands said he and his wife will likely be at Hill's future court appearances and says he's prepared for a long court process.
“We understand that it's a long distance between now and a conviction,” he said.
A celebration of Amy's life will be held Sunday at the Okotoks Centennial Centre at 2 p.m. People are asked to wear pink in remembrance of Amy.
