EDMONTON – It was a frightening scene on Whyte Avenue early Sunday morning as police responded to multiple reports of gunshots being fired just before 2 a.m.

When officers arrived at an alley just south of 82 Avenue between 103 and 104 Street, the two men in their mid-20s who had been injured in the incident were already gone.

They weren’t able to get far, though, as police contained the area. The two men were taken to hospital, where one of them remains in serious but stable condition. The other victim, who sustained only minor injuries, has since been released.

Forensics investigators remained at the scene all morning, marking a series of bullet casings, as well as a Tim Horton’s coffee cup and pack of cigarettes sitting on a dumpster in the alley.

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is right across the street from where the casings were found. An employee there says she saw someone with a gun run into the alley, and later a customer told her five shots were fired.

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At 4 a.m., the Pita Pit near the scene closed, but a staff member tells Global News that employees weren’t able to leave because their cars were still being blocked by the yellow police tape.

The investigation is still in its early stages, but police say this incident is not reflective of the neighbourhood.

“It’s certainly a concern but I think what’s important for Edmontonians to know is that Whyte Avenue is still a safe place to go,” said Staff Sgt. Steven Shwok of the Southwest Division.

He adds that he doesn’t believe this was a random act. There is also no information at this time to suggest the incident was gang-related.

Police do not yet have a suspect description; however, they are going through surveillance video from the area and speaking to multiple witnesses who have come forward.

“We are very optimistic that we are going to find something out in the near future,” Shwok said.

With files from Shannon Greer, Global News

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