Arrest made in shooting that blinded bystander

Police announced Friday they've arrested a Calgary man in the downtown shooting of a 24-year-old foreign student who was permanently blinded.

Roland Ashley Warawa, 30, faces several charges, including two counts of attempted murder.

Warawa is alsocharged withpointing a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, knowledge of unauthorized possession, discharging afirearm with intent to wound and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Jose Ribamar Ribeiro Neto, identified by the O Globo newspaper in Brazil, was shot just below the eye as he and his girlfriend left a restaurant and walked along Centre Street South on Tuesday night.

Police say Ribeiro was an innocent bystander andthe bullet that blinded him was fired during an altercation between a man and two other people in a park down the street.

"Co-operation between the police and the public was instrumental in this investigation. We had tremendous support and information from Calgarians, without which it's unlikely charges would've been laid so quickly," said Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson, adding that more than 70 officers worked on the case.

'Personally, I'm tired of when serious events like this, politicians trot out the same tried and tired old solutions that we're going to ban certain types of weapons or make it more restrictive. They're not getting it.' Rick Hanson, Calgary police chief

Warawa was also charged in connection with a Sept.4 incident, in which a man was shot in the stomach, police said Friday. The shooting happened at 2 a.m. on the 500 block of 10th Street N.E.,where policefound a man with non-life-threatening injuries.

In that case, Warawa has been charged with attempted murder, pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and knowledge of unauthorized possession.

Police said they stopped Warawa as he was driving in a car in northwestCalgary on Thursday afternoon and found a .22-calibre handgun in the vehicle.

Suspect has criminal history

Warawa has been barred by the courts from owning firearms until the year 2014, butHanson said he remains skeptical of the effectiveness of firearms prohibitions.

"Personally,I'm tired of when serious events like this, politicians trot out the same tried and tired old solutions that we're going to ban certain types of weapons ormake itmore restrictive. They're not getting it," said the chief.

Warawa has been remanded in custody by a justice of the peace until Monday.

In 1997, Warawa wassentenced to 10 years in prisonfor a northeast jewelry store robbery. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder for shooting and injuring the shop owner with a .22-calibre handgun, and to firing a gun with intent to wound for firing at two police officers.

In 2005, he was sentenced to three months in jail for assaulting two police officers when they tried to arrest him for shoplifting. One year later, he pleaded guilty to drug possession in Red Deer.

Brazilian community rallies

The Brazilian community in Calgary is rallying around Ribeiro, who had been in the city for just a few months to study English with his girlfriend.

"My parents have already spoken with him, but the situation is terrible. Neto is well, is aware, but for what I know, the doctors said he lost an eye and may also lose the other, but is not sure yet," his brother Ravi Ribeiro, 23, told Brazilian media.

He said their parents are making travel and visa arrangements to fly to Calgary as soon as possible.

Photos posted by Ribeiro on a social networking website in August show him and his girlfriend exploring Banff, Lake Louise and the West Edmonton Mall.

The Brazilian Community Association of Alberta is making arrangements to set up a trust fund for the young man.

They're waiting for instructions from Ribeiro about whether he wants aid to return home to Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil or financial assistance for his family to travel to Calgary.