Toronto police say a man shot and killed at a bowling alley in the city’s north end appears to have been targeted, and a woman who was fatally shot while leaving the business was a bystander.
Police and paramedics said they were called to PlayTime Bowl and Entertainment, located on Samor Road near Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue West, at around 10:10 p.m. on Saturday with reports of a shooting.
After arriving, officers found two victims with gunshot wounds — a 32-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman.
WATCH: Patrons of bowling alley where double homicide occurred recall the mass panic to get out
The man, who was later identified as Thanh Tien Ngo, was found without vital signs and was pronounced dead on the scene. The woman, who was later identified as Ruma Amar, was leaving with her husband and younger sister when she was shot. She was rushed to Sunnybook Health Sciences Centre with critical injuries, where she succumbed to her injuries.
“With what we have learned thus far, we have every reason to believe Mr. Ngo was targeted,” Det. Robert Choe told reporters Sunday afternoon.
WATCH: Police searching for 3 suspects in ‘targeted’ bowling alley shooting
“We are also confident in saying that there is no relationship between Mr. Ngo and Mrs. Amar, and that Mr. Ngo was the intended target when Mrs. Amar was shot.”
Choe said both victims were shot outside of the bowling alley and it appears Ngo was being pursued. He said the suspects remained outside of the building and came close to the front door.
WATCH: John Tory calls Toronto bowling alley shooting ‘tragic and disturbing’ but says city is still safe
”Mr. Ngo at one point was within the bowling alley socializing, had left the bowling alley and then was pursued inside by his assailants,” he said.
Police said they are looking for three male suspects and that at least two of them are considered to be armed with handguns. They were last seen leaving the scene westbound on Samor Road in a dark-coloured vehicle.
Paolo Cortes recalled what happened at the time of the shooting as he returned to the bowling alley on Sunday.
“People were screaming, pushing each other, chairs were being thrown across the floor. I left my shoes, my phone, my friends left their purses and jackets — there was no time to grab our stuff, we just had to get out of there,” he told reporters.
“It’s scary now we think about it – anywhere we go, anything can happen. We did not expect this to happen. We were just expecting a good time.”
WATCH: 2 dead in shooting outside of north-end Toronto bowling alley
Meanwhile, investigators have gathered surveillance video from the bowling alley and are looking for additional video from the area, Choe said.
Choe encouraged anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or with information about on why Ngo might have been targeted to contact the Toronto police homicide squad at 416-808-7400, 32 Division at 416-808-3200, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
— With files from Jessica Patton
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