Police are searching for two “armed and dangerous” suspects after a brazen daytime shooting near a school in Toronto’s Rexdale neighbourhood that left a 20-year-old man in critical condition.
Toronto police said two men armed with handguns approached the victim, at a school near Pittsboro Drive near Finch Ave West, and shot him numerous times at close range around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
At least 13 shell casings littered the area, with police saying one of the suspects fired first while the second suspect then fired a volley of gunshots at the unidentified victim. Both suspects then fled the area.
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Officers arrived on scene shortly after the shooting and found the man suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital where he remains in critical, but stable, condition.
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Dozens of police vehicles flooded the area and local schools were placed under lockdown and hold and secure, restrictions that were lifted around an hour later.
Police identified the first outstanding suspect as 21-year-old Shamaury White of Toronto, who is wanted on charges of attempted murder, four firearm related offences and failing to comply with a probation order.
White is described by police as standing 5’10”, with braided black hair, brown eyes, and a thin build. He was wearing a blue, short-sleeved collared T-shirt, black-and-white running shoes, black jeans and a black baseball cap.
The second outstanding suspect has not been identified and is described by police as aged 20-30, with a large black afro, standing 5’10” to 6’1”, with a thin build. He was wearing a white short-sleeve T-shirt, black thin-fitting, knee-length shorts, with horizontal stripes along the exterior sides, dark running shoes, and a black Raptors baseball cap with white logo on front.
Police said both men are considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by the public. Witnesses should contact 9-1-1 immediately if they spot the two suspects.
Supt. Ron Taverner of the local police division called the gunfire “disgusting” — the same response he had to the slaying of Candice Bobb, who was 24 weeks’ pregnant when gunned down in the back seat of a vehicle May 15.
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“It just speaks to the whole gun violence issue,” Taverner said of the shootings.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, or by texting TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
With files from Will Campbell