Police issue arrest warrant for 23-year-old man after Wavell Street shooting

Police are looking for a 23-year-old London man, who faces a slew of weapons-related charges after gunfire in an east London neighbourhood earlier this week.

No injuries were reported Tuesday night when police responded to calls of gunfire at a housing complex on Wavell Street near Dundas Street around 6:15 p.m.

Upon arriving at the scene, police said they discovered multiple bullet casings and two vehicles that had been hit. Police say they’ve since recovered a firearm.

Ayanle Aden is charged with the following offences:

• Discharge firearm with intent to endanger life
• Careless use of a firearm
• Possession of a restricted firearm without a licence
• Possession of a prohibited device without a licence
• Possession of a loaded firearm
• Possession of a firearm that had been obtained by the commission of an offence
• Two counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited
• Three counts of failing to comply with a recognizance
• Possession of a Schedule II substance for the purpose of trafficking

Police are warning that Aden is dangerous and he shouldn’t be approached.

Earlier this week, investigators said the incident was an altercation between at least two people, and police officers were on the lookout for two suspects described as a heavy-set black male, approximately five-foot-five, wearing black shorts and a black jacket with a hood, and a thin black male who is believed to be in his late 20s, approximately six feet tall with an afro-style haircut.

Although no one was hurt, residents living in the area were left feeling shaken.

Carrington Horton, 16, who lives in the housing complex with her siblings and father, Tim, said she heard the gunshots but initially thought they were fireworks.

“My dad was going to get the mail from the mailbox, but then he realized what happened,” she said. “They had the scene taped up with police tape. Why would two guys be shooting at each other? There’s a lot of kids who like to play outside here, and now, every parent is just like, ‘Don’t go play outside because you don’t want to get shot.'”

Tim said it was difficult talking to his children about what happened and was thankful police officers who responded to the incident were there to help explain the situation.

“It’s definitely changed things. I won’t be putting my son on his bicycle and just letting him go,” Tim said. “I’m going to be out, definitely following what’s going on more. It’s rattled us definitely, but we feel safe. The police presence was awesome, you know, coming around and talking to people, that was the good part.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the London Police Service at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).