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CALGARY – A Calgary father and business owner has been killed in what appears to be a violent mugging in the city’s northeast.

It happened in the 4700 block of Westwinds Drive N.E., around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

55-year-old Maqsood Ahmed was walking with his son when he was jumped by at least two people. Police say he was pepper sprayed and then stabbed.

Emergency crews rushed Ahmed to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later died. His son was uninjured.

According to investigators, Ahmed was carrying a bag of money as part of a business transaction.

He was the owner of Calgary Produce Market, which also included a money transfer business.

Officers are searching for two offenders who fled the scene in a dark-coloured vehicle.

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Staff Sergeant Colin Chisholm with the Calgary Police Service’s homicide unit says this was not a random incident.

“We definitely believe it was a planned and targeted attack,” he told reporters at a media availability Thursday afternoon.

CPS is asking residents to come forward if they noticed anything out of the ordinary leading up to the attack.

“We’re looking for people who may have noticed something in the area suspicious for up to weeks in advance of the incident”.

Police are also looking for a dark coloured 1999 to 2003, two door Toyota Solara.

Police reviewed surveillance footage from the area and have released the following descriptions of two suspects.

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– A male in his 20’s, approximately 5’10 with a lean muscular build and long black hair. He was wearing dark clothing and white shoes.

– A male in his 20’s, approximately 6′ tall with a medium to heavy build and short hair. He was wearing a light coloured hoodie under a dark three quarter length leather jacket, dark pants and white shoes.

Ahmed’s death is Calgary’s 28th homicide of 2014.