Suspect surrenders to police in Toronto strip club shooting

TORONTO – Toronto police say a suspect has turned himself in after a Canada wide warrant was issued in connection with a shooting at a Toronto area strip club last December.

Police say multiple shots were fired at 2:46 a.m. in a parking lot of the House of Lancaster on the Queensway in Etobicoke on Dec. 30, 2014.

It is alleged the male victim and a friend were leaving the establishment when he was shot in the head and leg following an altercation at the front of the club.

The shooter has been identified as 24-year-old Mohamud Yousef Omar and police say he turned himself in at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

“He was a person of interest prior, but we did not have enough evidence at the time,” said Superintendent Shaun Narine at a press conference Tuesday morning.

Omar, who police say is known to police, was wanted for several offences including attempted murder, aggravated assault, discharge firearm endanger life, point firearm and weapons dangerous.

Paid duty officers were hired to work an event at the club and were on scene at the time of the shooting.

However, police said paid duty officers were pulled from further work at the establishment following the incident.

“With the paid duties being authorized there and with other information coming to light through the investigation, we found that we should not have officers at a location that is frequented by parties known to us,” said Narine.

Police say there have been no other violent crimes at the club since the shooting last December.

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to contact police at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

With files from Adam Miller