Toronto police are seeking the public’s help identifying a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting death of 31-year-old Dwayne Anthony Vidal in Etobicoke.
Police said Vidal was coming home at around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 when he was shot in the back while walking in the courtyard of his townhouse at 17 Mount Olive Dr.
“He parked his vehicle in the parking lot near his home. He exited that vehicle and commenced walking towards the front door of his dwelling,” Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone told reporters at a press conference Wednesday morning.
“As he was walking in the direction of his address, an unknown male was walking in the opposite direction. As the unknown male passed the deceased, he pointed a firearm in the direction of Mr. Vidal and commenced shooting.”
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The victim, a father of three, was rushed to hospital by paramedics but later succumbed to his injuries.
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Police said the suspect was captured on surveillance video walking around the townhouse complex between seven to eight minutes prior to the shooting.
“After the shooting, this individual was observed running away and entering a white vehicle which appears to have been parked a short distance away,” Carbone said.
Police have released still images of the suspect dressed all in black wearing a hoodie and black shoes. The make and model of the white four-door sedan was not disclosed.
VIDEO: Toronto police release images of suspect wanted in fatal shooting of Dwayne Vidal. Catherine McDonald reports.
Authorities said the shooting suspect was a passenger in the vehicle. A description of the driver was not made available.
“I’m hesitant to give the make and model because it often will deter individuals from supplying us information directly,” Carbone said.
“I have an idea what that vehicle is. However, hearing if from an individual who actually saw the vehicle that could supply us with information would be better for my investigation.”
Carbone said Vidal was not known to police and investigators are looking into the possibility that it may have been a random attack.
“It’s very early to say but that is a possibility. We cannot rule it out,” Carbone said.
Police say this is Toronto’s 11th murder of 2018.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.