A 32-year-old man, just hours away from celebrating his birthday, was found with a gunshot wound at a North York mall on Friday night.
Toronto police and paramedics were called to North York Sheridan Mall at Jane Street and Wilson Avenue before 8 p.m. Friday.
The man was taken to a trauma centre in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The victim has been identified as John Trevor Paul of Toronto.
John Charlemagne, a friend of the victim, told Global News Saturday that he had plans with Paul later on in the day.
“It’s hurting me and it’s hurting everybody,” said Charlemagne. “I’m crying right now because I’m missing him.
“I just want police to do their job and make sure these guys are off the streets.”
Det. Chris Ruhl told reporters Paul was shot in the chest in what police are calling a “targeted” shooting.
Ruhl said a vehicle pulled into the back parking lot of the mall and three suspects approached the victim, while one suspect stayed inside the vehicle.
One suspect shot at the victim before all four suspects fled inside the vehicle, police said.
The vehicle is described as a light-coloured full-sized pickup truck with a moon roof cab.
This is the second fatal shooting at the mall in a month.
Jovane Clarke, 22, was fatally shot Aug. 31, in what Staff Sgt. Mike Carbone described at the time as an “overkill.”
Carbone said Clarke was ambushed by four suspects upon returning to his vehicle after conducting business in the mall.
The suspects opened fire on the victim who fled into the mall, where one suspect pursued him and continued to shoot.
The case remains unsolved.
Det. Chris Ruhl said there is no indication that the two incidents are related at the moment, however, they are not ruling it out.
Mayor John Tory commented on the situation Saturday afternoon, telling reporters that he feels a “sense of tragedy and loss every time we have a homicide in this city and we can never afford to become complacent.”
READ MORE: ‘How do they sleep at night?’: Mother of Toronto mall shooting victim speaks out
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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