Toronto police have released a graphic video of a deadly east-end shooting, which claimed the life of a friend of Canadian musician Drake, in the hopes of identifying the gunmen.
Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux said 33-year-old Anthony “Fif” Soares was dropped off at a residential high-rise on Glamorgan Avenue near Kennedy Road and Highway 401 around 3 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 when he was gunned down by two assailants inside the building’s lobby.
“It certainly was very targeted. It was focused,” Giroux said. “It was certainly overkill.”
Police said security video of the shooting shows two suspects getting out of a white four-door Ford Fusion and running towards the male victim before firing several rounds through the glass.
“The deceased is trapped between the inner foyer area and the offenders who are on the opposite side of the glass,” Giroux told reporters during a press conference Tuesday morning.
“The deceased falls to the floor of the foyer. The suspects continue to fire at the deceased while he’s lying on the floor.”
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At one point, the video shows one of the suspects wiping his fingerprints off the frame of the glass door.
“Both of the suspects are armed with semi-automatic pistols,” Giroux said. “The video shows that both of the weapons lock in the open position which indicates the weapons are now empty.”
The video then goes on to show the two suspects running back to the Ford Fusion and driving away.
Police said Soares suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died.
Giroux said the victim had a criminal past and was known to police but wasn’t facing any current charges. The motive of the shooting is still under investigation.
READ MORE: Man, 33, identified by homicide detectives after Scarborough shooting
Investigators said they have spoken to Soares’ family and were informed of the connection the victim had with Drake.
“He was known to Drake. Drake was a friend of his,” Giroux said. “Many of the family members have met Drake and I would certainly encourage him, through his tweets, to encourage anybody in the community to come forward.”
The Canadian rapper recently posted a tribute on his Instagram page and commemorated his late friend with a new tattoo.
“RIP to one of our family members… our brother… I still can’t even believe this morning was real,” he wrote.
“It was an honour to have shared years together and I will always keep your memory alive Forever FIF.”
Police said they managed to get a partial plate of the suspect vehicle involved in the shooting and are appealing for anyone with information on the case to come forward.
“Is it somebody that was following them? Is it a happens-chance meeting? Is it somebody who knew that he was associated with this car or the individual driving that car?” Giroux said. “Those are things that I’m interested in.”
Police have not released a detailed description of the shooting suspects except that one of them was wearing a burgundy hoodie and scarlet shoes while the other had on blue jeans and a dark blue hoodie.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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