Man found dead in Highwood alley was shot to death, police say

A man whose body was found in a northwest alley last weekend is being considered a homicide, police say.

The man was found dead Sunday morning in an alley in the 400 block of Hendon Drive northwest.

The office of the chief medical examiner confirmed the victim, Colin Ernest Munroe, 37, was shot to death.

Police say he had previous ties to organized crime, but it's not believed his death is connected to the recent spate of other violent crime in Calgary, said Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm

He said it's possible Munroewasshot up to 12 hours before he was found by a passerby in the alley.

"He did not live nearby that location," he said.

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Investigators are looking into whether drugs played a role in Munroe's death.

This was the 30th homicide in Calgary in 2015.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the homicide unit tip line at403-428-8877 or contact Crime Stoppers.

"We're looking for the public to assist us in this," Chisholm said.