Police are investigating the targeted shooting of a 53-year-old Toronto man whose body was found in the driveway of his west-end home early Friday morning.
Toronto police responded to reports of a shooting around 2:30 a.m. on La Rush Drive, near Scarlett Road and Eglinton Avenue in Etobicoke.
Const. Victor Kwong said the man’s wife called 911 and officers located him in the driveway without vital signs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“At this stage we do believe it’s targeted,” Homicide Det.-Sgt. Susan Gomes said.
“The victim was returning home, he was alone, he went to enter his home essentially and an unknown person approached him and we believe at this stage — although yet to be confirmed — that he in fact suffered one gunshot wound.”
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Police have identified the man as Antonio Sergi. Court documents show he was charged with two drug-related offences on Feb. 14, 2014, which were later withdrawn on June 1, 2016.
“I understand that he has a wife, she was in fact the one who called us and was alerted to this scenario,” Gomes said.
“She understood that he was on his way home and in fact had heard something outside and when she went to check she had found him.”
Neighbours described the neighbourhood as quiet and tight-knit, adding they were shocked to hear Sergi had been fatally shot in his own driveway.
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“It’s a very nice neighbourhood, very friendly people,” said neighbour Nives Krmac.
“I still can’t believe it. What’s happened? I don’t know. … Awful, I waved to him yesterday when I walked the dog.”
Despina Kourou said she’s lived in the neighbourhood for 25 years and had never seen anything like this happen.
“It’s terrible, I was shocked,” she said. “Of course it scares me because this neighbourhood is a very good neighbourhood.”
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Sergi was previously named in a large-scale drug bust dubbed Project Green Giant on Feb. 24, 2014. More than $2 million and 200 kilograms of drugs, including marijuana and hashish, were seized in the investigation.
“We’re in the midst of understanding who he was,” Gomes said. “I can tell you he is known to police at this stage I can’t tell you what depth or what outstanding charges if any.”
An unknown individual was seen fleeing from the scene with their head covered and police are working to determine their identity.
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“We believe the person seen fleeing the scene is in fact the suspect in this scenario,” Gomes siad. “It was some sort of head covering, it could have been a hoodie or some sort of hat.”
Police said the suspect in the shooting is described as standing 6’0″, with an average build, wearing a black toque and black clothing.
Gomes said there was no information available on a motive for the shooting or a vehicle used in the incident, but said the suspect had fled on foot.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
With files from Lama Nicolas
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