Police have identified a 54-year-old Toronto real estate broker as the man who was fatally gunned down in a busy downtown Toronto restaurant Saturday night.
Det. Shannon Dawson said officers responded to a shooting at Michael’s on Simcoe, located at 100 Simcoe Street around 8:50 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers located a victim who had been shot multiple times and was without vital signs.
Toronto paramedics took the man to a nearby trauma centre in life-threatening condition, where he later died.
The victim has been identified as Simon Giannini, of Toronto.
Gianinni was a well-known real estate broker with an established brand in the GTA. In addition to having his face on billboards across the city, he hosted a real estate program on a local community television station and previously purchased airtime on local radio stations including NEWSTALK 1010, and Corus Radio’s AM640.
Dawson said a suspect entered the restaurant, proceeded towards Giannini and shot him several times before immediately fleeing the scene.
According to witness statements, the suspect fled westbound on Pearl Street in a white SUV.
The suspect appears to be a man and was wearing jogging pants, and a dark-coloured jacket with a hood on covering his face.
Dawson said several witnesses have come forward but urged anyone else who may have been at the restaurant or in the area at the time of the incident to speak to police.
“I’m sure it was very frightening for the customers at the restaurant and that is why we think many of them may have fled very quickly and perhaps those people haven’t had a chance to speak to us,” she said, adding it was a busy Saturday night dinner rush.
Giannini was in the company of another person at the time of the shooting.
Police believe he was targeted, but do not yet have a motive.
This is the second shooting at the restaurant in two years.
In September 2015, a woman and a man were shot inside the same upscale steakhouse.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.