A quiet street in southeast Ottawa was the scene today of a major police operation. The tactical squad, police dogs and a robot were used to help in the search for a suspect. Shortly after 10 a.m., police evacuated 5 homes along Topley Crescent, near Hunt Club and blocked off the street for hours. It's a quiet neighbourhood that has seen its share of violence.  Just last evening, blocks away, a man in his 20's was shot in the legs. It appears these two incidents may be related.

With guns drawn, heavily-armed members of the Ottawa Police Tactical Unit carefully approached the single family home on Topley Crescent.  Moments earlier, they had evacuated 5 neighbouring houses, telling residents it was for their own safety.

“I never thought this would happen on this street,” says Andrea Roy, as she stands beyond the yellow police tape. Roy was in the house across the street, helping her aunt and uncle move when police told them to leave.

"The moving van was in the way so we couldn't see anything but we heard them kick the door in.”

Dean Boettger's house backs on to the house on Topley. They were told to stay inside.

 “The police arrived and came in between the houses and took position in our neighbors’ back yard,” says Boettger.

This is just blocks away from a shooting that happened around 7 p.m. last evening.  It left a man in his 20's with gunshot wounds to both of his legs

The shooting occurred in the 100 block of Horsdal Private .  Sagar Kauchal was refereeing a girls' soccer game when they heard 3 loud pops. He thought it was fireworks until a man in the neighborhood told him it was gunfire.  Kauchal made a quick decision to postpone the game. Moments later, he saw police cars and an ambulance.

"I saw four men getting arrested on Blohm Drive,” says Kauchal, “and ambulances with stretchers out.  I have no idea if someone was hurt.”

The victim is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  He's not talking to the police

Police now believe the shooter lived in the house on Topley.  They are asking for any information the public can provide in finding 31-year-old Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi, who is described as a black male, 5’10” with black hair and brown eyes. They warn people that he is considered armed and dangerous, which explains the reason for the heavy tactical police presence.

“The information brought it to a higher risk,” says Constable Chuck Benoit with the Ottawa Police, and for us to do the job safely for the public and for the officers, we needed to do this.”

Four hours after they were evacuated, Andrea Roy and her family were escorted home to finish their move. 

This is the twentieth shooting so far this year in Ottawa.  It is the third one where someone has been shot in the legs.  The Guns and Gangs Unit is investigating. If anyone has information, they are asked to call Ottawa Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5050 or  Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477(TIPS) or toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.