On August 18, Nakita Baron, 31, was fatally shot in her Bentley in the southwest Calgary community of Evergreen. Her husband, Talal Fouani, 46, was also shot but survived and remains in hospital. CBC News has learned Fuani has been free on bail pending trial on organized crime charges. On Friday, Calgary police laid charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder against Michael Tyrell Arnold, 34, who was arrested by Edmonton police in connection with the Evergreen shooting. Arnold’s extensive criminal history shows he was charged with assault and weapons offenses on Aug. 3. Despite his long history of not abiding by court-ordered conditions, it appears that Arnold was granted bail and released into the community. Arnold’s previous convictions tell the story of a drug dealer with a history of violating court terms who is also subject to a lifetime firearms ban. In 2020, Arnold was charged with second-degree murder stemming from the 2019 homicide of a 45-year-old man in Edmonton. This charge was dropped after a preliminary hearing in November 2020, but it is not known why. In 2018, Arnold was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison after being convicted of trafficking. In 2014, Arnold was sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking and eluding police. Arnold remains in Calgary police custody and his next court appearance is scheduled for September. In a statement to CBC News, Fuani’s family said they are grateful for police efforts in investigating the shooting that killed Baron and sent her husband to hospital in life-threatening condition. “This has taken a huge toll on our family. Ms Baron’s death is a tragedy. We have lost an important member of our family and are devastated,” the statement said.
