2nd Calgary brother handed life sentence for murdering stranger outside nightclub

Samuel Lugela was handed a life sentence for murdering a stranger outside a Calgary nightclub four years after his brother faced the same sentence for a similar senseless fatal shooting.

The 31-year-old was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Abdurahaman Indiris, who was fatally shot outside the Portico Hookah Lounge in 2020.

Lugela is not allowed to apply for parole for 19 years, Court of King's Bench Justice Paul Jeffrey ruled last week.

The shooting happened in the early morning hours of Sept.12, 2020, as patrons of the Forest Lawn nightclub gathered outsideafter it closed around midnight.

Indiris approached Lugela and his friends, spraying an aerosol can toward the group.

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"Samuel Lugela was gripping a loaded handgun, the barrel tucked just inside the waist of his jeans," wrote Jeffrey in his 10-page sentencing decision.

"He drew it up and without hesitation shot the man down."

An 'unconscionably violent act'

The judge noted that besides one man who turned away from the spray and left the group, nobody else seemed bothered by the aerosol.

As Indiris was "floundering" on the ground, Lugela chambered another bullet, raised the gun again and shot the victim.

"Lugela's sudden and unconscionably violent act remains a mystery," wrote Jeffrey.

"I am left with the distinct impression that Lugela came that night prepared to shoot someone if necessary, but by evening's end he was itching for a reason to shoot anyone perhaps just to be seen doing so."

'Two shots into total strangers'

Four years before Samuel Lugela killed a man, his younger brother, Nelson Lugela, fatally shot Calgary Stampeders defensive back Mylan Hicks.

The circumstances were so similar between the two random, stranger killings that the judge used the Nelson Lugela decision as a guide in sentencing Samuel.

• 'You are a dangerous man': Judge hands down life sentence to man who killed Calgary Stampeder

In 2016, Hicks was shot twice by Nelson outside the Marquee nightclub after it closed. Earlier in the night, Nelson got into an argument with members of the football team but Hicks wasn't involved.

"Both murders were committed by handgun, with two shots into an apparent total stranger, in the presence of a crowd and following some preparatory steps," wrote the judge.

Nelson was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 18 years.