Calgary not the 'Wild West': Judge denounces gun violence as he jails killer for 8 years

A Calgary judge had a strong message for drug dealers who "engage in shootouts" on city streets as he handed an eight-year sentence to a man who fatally shot his dealer boss. 

Tarek Sharples, 47, killed Jamie O'Leary, 39, outside the victim's house on April 1, 2022. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December. 

Both men were armed at the time. O'Leary raised his pistol, pointing it at Sharples, who then shot first. O'Leary died on the sidewalk. 

'Close to self-defence'

On Thursday, Court of King's Bench Justice Robert Hall denounced public shootings.

"They endanger all of us. They scare all of us," said Hall. 

"We are not living in the Wild West, we must not be held hostage in our own communities."

• Drug dealer shot while daughter played in backyard, judge hears during manslaughter plea

Prosecutor Zailin Lakhoo argued for a 10- to 12-year sentence, while defence lawyer Andrea Urquhart proposed a five-year sentence. 

Hall noted that based on text messages between the two men, there was "considerable provocation." He found that Sharples' actions were "close to self-defence."

'You wanna do this?'

In 2022, both men were dealing drugs. Sharples worked for O'Leary but wanted out from under his boss, according to an agreed statement of facts presented at the guilty plea. 

By April 1, 2022, the two dealers were in conflict.

Recovered text messages between the pair show the lead-up to the fatal incident.

Four minutes before the shooting, O'Leary told Sharples to "bring your drama to my kid's house and see what happens … bring me my dope and any of my cash."

Sharples replied: "You wanna do this or you just want your shit?"

Both men armed

Two minutes later, Sharples pulled up in a van outside O'Leary's southeast home. O'Learly walked outside with a pistol. 

As the two argued, O'Leary raised his gun and pointed at Sharples. 

Sharples then shot O'Leary.

Justice Hall noted both men behaved badly on the day of the fatal shooting. 

"Mr. Sharples should never have driven to Mr O'Leary's residence … he should never have attended with a loaded shotgun," said Hall. 

"Mr. O'Leary should not have confronted Mr. Sharples with a handgun… He should not have raised the gun in a shooting position."