Toronto police are seeking the public’s help identifying three suspects wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man at an apartment building near Jane and Finch in the northwest end of the city in February.
Police and paramedics were called to a residential high-rise at 2999 Jane Street, near Yewtree Boulevard area south of Finch Avenue West, at around 10:15 p.m. on Feb. 1.
Homicide Det. Rob North said officers located the victim, identified as Dameion McFarland, inside an apartment unit without vital signs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said surveillance video showed one suspect enter the building through the front lobby and make his way to the rear of the building to let two other suspects inside.
“McFarland was not the intended target of this cowardly act,” North said during a press conference Monday morning at police headquarters.
“He was shot before he even got the door fully open. I’m not really confident that the suspects knew or did not know who they were shooting. Which makes it even more dangerous.”
North said there were at least two other males inside the apartment and one of those individuals was the intended target.
“We’ve interviewed the people that we believe were targets,” North said. “Some agreed to be interviewed. Some didn’t agree to be interviewed.”
Police said the first suspect is described as wearing plaid pajama pants with white shoes. The second was wearing all black with a “distinct” red basketball backpack and the third was wearing a two-toned grey jacket. Police said all three had their faces covered.
“There may be somebody out there that recognizes their walk, their mannerisms, as being a friend, somebody they went to school with or someone they know from the community,” North said.
Investigators said surveillance videos shows the third suspect carrying a concealed weapon.
“What you can see is the butt of what appears to be a shotgun with some green painters tape covering the handle,” North explained.
Police described McFarland as a hard-working male who had a full-time job and was preparing to leave the country the next morning. Authorities did not reveal why he was in the apartment at the time.
“He was not supposed to be there, that night,” North said. “He has an extended family. We have been in contact with them. Because he is a family man and has a full-time job, really contributed to the community, they are sort of stumped as to why this would happen to him.”
McFarland is Toronto’s sixth homicide victim of 2017.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
VIDEO: Police identify suspect in Jane Street shooting
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