Police say a 24-year-old Markham woman who was fatally shot in a Scarborough LCBO parking lot last Friday night had just met the intended shooting victim hours before they were both gunned down.
Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux said 26-year-old, Joseph Anzolona, of Toronto, entered a store in the Ellesmere Road and Victoria Park area and was shot at close range when he returned to his vehicle around 9:50 p.m.
Twenty-four-year-old Cynthia Mullapudi was in the back seat of the SUV and was also struck and killed by gunfire, Giroux said, adding that the gunman and another suspect then fled in a silver four-door vehicle.
WATCH: Suspect charged in Scarborough LCBO parking lot double shooting
Giroux said Saturday it was believed Anzolona was the intended target while Mullapudi was caught in the crossfire.
“They picked her up to attend a party and within an hour or so of being picked up, she was deceased.”
Two people in the front of the SUV were unharmed and Giroux said the pair are co-operating with investigators.
On Monday, police said 24-year-old Harris Nnane of Toronto, had been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.
Investigators are now asking the public’s help locating a car involved in the shooting, after citizens identified it at the scene and recorded the licence plate.
READ MORE: Suspect charged with first-degree murder in double shooting at Scarborough LCBO
Giroux said the gunman and another suspect fled the scene in a 2006 grey four-door Ford Fusion with the licence plate number BYYW755.
“The suspect was seen by these citizens running back towards the car that was waiting for him. The engine was running, the lights were on, and the vehicle was waiting for the suspect to run back to the car,” Giroux said.
“As the suspect was moving backwards he was still firing at the deceased male who was in the back of the vehicle.”
READ MORE: Double slaying in Scarborough LCBO parking lot a ‘targeted’ shooting
Giroux said the registered owner of the vehicle has been identified as 24-year-old Julianna Talevski, who is connected to the accused.
“She could have been elsewhere, I’ve made efforts through witnesses to be able to establish her whereabouts elsewhere and I have not been successful.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
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