'This kid shouldn't have died': 19-year-old killed in east Ottawa shooting

A 19-year-old man has died after a shooting in east Ottawa late Friday night.

Police say the shooting happened at around 10 p.m. on the 1800 block of Russell Road, behind the Dempsey Community Centre.

They identified the victim Saturday as Yousef Salaman of Ottawa.

The shooter quickly fled the scene, police said.

As of late Saturday afternoon, Ottawa police had not announced any arrests.

Multiple shots reported

Several nearby residents reported hearing multiple gunshots late Friday night.

Claude St-Germain told CBC News he heard the gunfire and it soon became clear someone had been hit.

"Shortly after, we could hear somebody complaining of his pain from being shot," said St-Germain, who watched police arrive from his house a few doors down from the community centre.

"It's unfortunate for the community," he added. "It seems to be happening more regularly."

Dorine Laprade said she thought the gunshots were early Canada Day firecrackers.

Laprade said she's known Salaman since she moved into the neighbourhood five years ago. He was friends with her children, she said, and he had visited her home for meals.

"He's the sweetest boy in the world. He was very respectful to my children and myself," she said through tears. "This kid shouldn't have died today."

Shooting is 'concerning,' says councillor

Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr said the Friday night shooting was "concerning" and another recent example of violence involving young people in her ward.

"There has been a lot of youth-involved shootings and stabbings. It's worrisome," Carr said.

Carr said city council needs to have more conversations about setting up preventative and supportive programming for youth in Ottawa.

For Laprade, action can't come soon enough.

"This has to stop," she said.