Jonas Robert Nedd Sutton, 21, was stabbed to death early Saturday outside a downtown Calgary nightclub. His family says Sutton — remembered for his smile, his drive, and his compassion — had just purchased his first car and was working toward a career in music.
"Jonas is my nephew," said Shannon O'Regan. "He's my sister's son. We grew up in Airdrie. We went to R.J. Hawkey, Meadowbrook Middle School, and Bert Church schools. Jonas himself didn't live in Airdrie, but we still have family and friends there."
Fight outside Commonwealth bar
Calgary police say they were called to the 700 block of 10 Avenue S.W. at approximately 1:55 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, for reports of a fight in a parking lot outside Commonwealth Bar & Stage.
"Upon arrival, officers located a victim suffering from stab wounds, along with two other victims suffering from injuries," police said in a release. "One victim, a 21-year-old man, was transported to hospital by EMS but was tragically declared deceased upon arrival at the hospital. The second victim remains in hospital in stable condition and the third victim has since been released."
In a separate statement issued later the same day, police said officers from across the service "flooded the area" and located four suspects in the downtown core. Those individuals were taken into custody pending further investigation.
"It is believed that this was an alcohol-fuelled fight, that tragically took the life of one man," said Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson of the CPS Homicide Unit. "We are committed to finding answers for the victim’s family and are pleading with anyone with information to come forward."
Police said the motive remains unknown, but they believe numerous witnesses may have recorded the altercation on cellphones. Detectives are seeking anyone with footage or dashcam video from the area, and are specifically trying to identify a potential witness who left the scene in a dark-coloured Tesla. The individual is not believed to have been involved in the fight.
Following an autopsy scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, police identified the victim as Sutton.
"The four suspects who were taken into custody following the altercation were subsequently released without charge pending further investigation," police said in an update issued April 29. "Investigators have spoken with more than a dozen witnesses and are in the process of reviewing countless hours of CCTV."
'He never stopped reaching for the stars'
Sutton's family described him as joyful, driven and deeply kind.
"Jonas was a great young man, always smiling, always so happy and laughing. He was also a go-getter, so he worked really hard. He was a goal setter," O'Regan said. "He had just purchased his first car a couple of weeks ago; he was very excited about that. He was so fun, empathetic and helpful."
"I feel that, because the incident involved a large group of people, people assume that maybe he was in a bad crowd, whether it's a gang or just the wrong group, but that's really not the case," she said. "He was just really, really helpful and outgoing."
Sutton had recently started working toward a music career.
"He was excited about getting a new job and just building his musical career as well," O'Regan said. "He was working on that — he loved music and he loved people, and he just had a whole bright future ahead of him. We were so excited to see where the world would take him."
O'Regan said Sutton had recently stepped up to support the family after the death of his aunt from cancer.
"We just unfortunately lost my other sister — so his other aunt — she had been battling stage four cancer," she said. "Jonas would go visit her and, bring flowers and just offering people rides to go and see her; seeing [and asking] if anyone needed coffee, 'Auntie? Do you need anything?'"
"He would just go there and try to make her smile. And when we had my sister's service, he was there helping to set up tables and putting things away, and just giving everybody hugs and saying that he loved you and that he was here for you."
"He was just always looking out for everybody else and making sure everyone was okay."
GoFundMe campaign launched
A GoFundMe campaign titled Remembering Jonas has been launched to support the family with funeral arrangements and help bring Sutton's younger sister home from Dawson Creek.
"The GoFundMe was started by Morgan Price, who was going to be Jonas's future sister-in-law — his brother's fiancée," O'Regan said. "We all love Jonas, and we'd do anything for him. So yes, the GoFundMe will be for the family."
As of Wednesday morning, April 30, the fundraiser had raised $6,728 of its $10,000 goal through 52 donations. The campaign describes Sutton's as "a bright and happy soul who filled every room he entered with joy."
"Every time we think of him we remember something goofy he did, putting a smile on our faces. He was tough, resilient, and determined to complete whatever goal that was set in front of him," the page states. "He had saved up his money and just bought his first dream car two weeks ago, while already creating a goal for himself for his next upgrade — he never stopped reaching for the stars."
The message, written by Jordan and Morgan Sutton-MacDonald, ends:
"Though his time with us was far too short, the light Jonas brought into this world will last forever. We love you Jo, until we meet again."
'Still stunned'
O'Regan said the family is still trying to process the shock of losing Sutton so soon after another tragedy.
"You never expect it to happen to anybody, but especially, you know, not to good kids like Jonas," she said.
That Easter dinner, O'Regan said, was a gift.
"We did celebrate Good Friday and had Easter dinner together, and we have some pictures from that, and it was just a good time," she said. "I'm so happy that we got to do that and spend a happy day with him."
She added that a vigil will be held Sunday, May 4, at 8 p.m. on 10th Avenue S.W., where Sutton was killed.
Funeral services will take place Wednesday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. at McInnis & Holloway’s Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street N., Calgary), with a reception to follow in the funeral home’s Hospitality Centre.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, visiting www.calgarycrimestoppers.org, or using the P3 Tips app.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.