It was a bloody start to the new year for city cops investigating two shootings, a “machete attack” and several stabbings.

In the aftermath of New Year’s Eve celebrations, Staff Sgt. Ray Akbar with Edmonton Police Service said downtown division officers said “hit the ground running” on Friday morning with numerous calls for service including gunshots reported outside of the Eclipse Hookah Bar on 111 Avenue and 93 Street at 4:30 a.m.

“When our officers arrived on scene, it was fairly chaotic there as far as people coming and going,” said Akbar.

“We were unable to find anyone who was injured, however we did get a call from the Royal Alexandra Hospital that two victims with gunshots were dropped off there in relation to this particular event.”

Of the two men hospitalized, one presented with non-life threatening injuries while the other is in serious condition. Police cordoned off parts of 111 Avenue from 92 Street to 94 Street on Friday morning as forensic investigators began gathering evidence.

Another shooting occurred near 22 Avenue and 53 Street. Two victims in that incident were also transported to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. No further details were released.

Akbar said police were also looking into a stabbing that occurred near a gas station on 91 Street and Jasper Avenue at roughly 5 a.m. One man was taken to hospital with “very minor injuries”, said Akbar.

In the city’s northeast, Staff Sgt. David DeMarco said police were dealing with two stabbings that were “domestic in nature”. Two men were taken to hospital, though there was no update on their condition, he said.

Police also responded to a “machete attack” on 118 Avenue and 101 Street. Acting Staff Sgt. Harry Grewal said the incident happened at around 7:30 a.m. and a man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. An investigation is underway, he said.

Acting Staff Sgt. Tracy Gulinosky said police in Edmonton’s southeast dealt with a “couple New Year’s parties gone bad”, including a man who was jumped on his way home from a party at 5:30 a.m. and stabbed in the hand. Gulinosky said the victim is a middle-aged man who was heavily intoxicated and unable to recall where the stabbing occurred.

“Unfortunately everybody is still very intoxicated after New Year’s Eve parties.”

matthew.dykstra@sunmedia.ca

@SunMattDykstra