Police are on the hunt for four suspects after a brazen shooting inside a busy Toronto mall claimed the life of a 22-year-old man Thursday afternoon.
Toronto police and paramedics were called to the North York Sheridan Mall, near Jane Street and Wilson Avenue, at around 5:20 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone said on Friday the victim parked his vehicle at the south side parking lot when he was confronted by four suspects.
“At least two individuals commenced shooting and chased the deceased north to one of the entrances of the mall,” Carbone said during a press conference. “It’s at this point, only one of these two individuals chased the deceased into the mall.”
Police said the suspect continued to fire gunshots at the victim while he was being chased inside the mall.
Security footage from a business inside the mall and obtained by Global News shows the victim being pursued by the suspect as mallgoers are seen fleeing into nearby shops.
The video appears to show the suspect running after the victim, who he eventually collapses to the ground. The suspect is then seen in the footage running out of the mall.
VIDEO: Victim in Sheridan Mall shooting targeted as he exited his car
“When officers arrived on scene they were directed to an area inside the mall where they found the lifeless body of a young man,” Carbone said. “This man was observed to have several gunshot wounds on his body.”
Authorities said the victim, identified as Jovane Clarke and was not previously known to police, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy will be performed Friday to determine the exact cause of death.
READ MORE: Police release video of shooting of teen boy at mall in north-end Toronto
Although police believe the shooting was targeted, Carbone said innocent people could have been injured or killed as gunshots were fired in the parking lot and inside the mall.
“We are very fortunate nobody else was hit. We consider ourselves lucky that no one else was struck,” Carbone said.
“This is case is concerning. It’s very violent. It appears these individuals were targeting Mr. Clarke. There’s no doubt in my mind that’s who they were trying to kill.”
VIDEO: Police looking for four suspects following shooting at Sheridan Mall
Police described all four suspects as males in their mid-20s and wearing dark clothing.
Carbone said they have obtained a “great deal of surveillance video” from the scene but are urging anyone with further information to come forward.
“As you can well imagine, the mall and the parking lot were filled with shoppers and pedestrians,” Carbone said. “Today I am appealing to anyone who was in the area and may have captured the shooting with their cellphone cameras or with their car dashboard cameras, to contact homicide at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers.”
Police said the mall is open on Friday and anyone who may have abandoned their vehicles in the parking lot during the shooting can come pick them up.
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