POLICE SUSPECT SHOOTING VICTIM'S DEATH RELATED TO DRUG ACTIVITIES

Kuflom Under House Arrest When Killed

The city's latest homicide victim was serving a drug-related sentence
under house arrest when he was shot in the Beltline on Monday afternoon.

Police have made no arrests in the slaying of Efrem Mehari Kuflom, 30,
but investigators said Tuesday his criminal history makes drugs the
most likely motive.

"The investigation has shown so far that (Kuflom) was involved in
trafficking drugs," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Forsen of the homicide unit.

Court records obtained by the Herald show Kuflom pleaded guilty
earlier this year to trafficking cocaine, possessing cash as proceeds
of crime and breach of probation stemming from an arrest on June 28,
2007.

Queen's Bench Justice Bryan Mahoney gave Kuflom a conditional sentence
of two years less a day in May, and ordered him to spend the first
year under 24-hour house arrest.

Kuflom was authorized to leave his home only for work, education or
medical emergencies.

Part of the homicide investigation is focused on why Kuflom was behind
the wheel of his Pontiac sedan in a Beltline alleyway when he was shot
around 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

"We're still trying to drill down into that," Forsen
said.

Relatives at Kuflom's northwest home declined comment.

Investigators, meanwhile, have gathered surveillance footage from
buildings around the shooting scene, and officers are doing a
door-to-door canvas of nearby residents along 11th Street S.W.,
between 12th and 13th avenues.

"The beat officers in that area are very, very diligent and recognized
(Kuflom's) vehicle, but didn't have any specific recall of it," Forsen
said.

About a dozen witnesses have spoken to police so far.

Forsen said people who knew Kuflom or anyone who can shed light on his
whereabouts in the time leading up to the shooting could hold the key
for investigators.

"No matter what the forensic advances in science, we need help from
the public," he said.

Investigators were also in the process of getting a search warrant for
Kuflom's car on Tuesday; a search of his person didn't turn up any
drugs or weapons, Forsen added.

As part of his sentence, Kuflom was ordered to submit to random
searches of his person, vehicle or home, take counselling, abstain
from alcohol or non-prescription drugs and submit to random alcohol or
drug testing as requested.

After the 12 months of house arrest expired, Kuflom was ordered to
serve the second half of his sentence under a nightly curfew.

The judge also imposed a 10-year firearms and weapons prohibition and
ordered Kuflom to provide a DNA sample.

Although Kuflom's record points to his involvement in the illegal drug
trade, Forsen said investigators must remain open to other reasons
behind his killing.

"We're not closing the door on other possible motives," he
said.

Witnesses saw a man running from the scene and police are trying to
find him.

He is described as dark-skinned, in his early-to mid-20s, wearing a
hooded jacket.

Police also received vague information about a second person of
interest, but said Tuesday they are still investigating that angle.