A 26-year-old former amateur boxer is being fondly remembered after he was fatally stabbed at an east-end Toronto convenience store early Tuesday.
Police said they were called to a 7-Eleven located at Donlands Avenue and O’Connor Drive at around 3 a.m.
Officers arrived on the scene and found a man, who was later identified as Fesal Ahmed Mohammad Sobir, with obvious signs of trauma. He was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition where he later died of his injuries.
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John Kalbhenn told Global News he was Sobir’s former boxing coach at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club. He said up until a few years ago, Sobir was an amateur athlete with dreams of boxing on a national level.
Kalbhenn said Sobir had “no shortage of heart.”
“He had all the heart in the world,” he said.
Kalbhenn said Sobir joined the club at the age of 13 after he immigrated to Canada. He described Sobir as a “promising” fighter with a natural skill as a competitor.
“He was a really hard worker, there’s no doubt of his courage,” Kalbhenn said.
“He won’t be forgotten.”
The coach said Sobir’s picture remains on the wall in the club, so they “will see him every day.”
Sobir’s brother, Saboor Sobir, told Global News Fesal retired due to a leg injury and had been working as a construction worker with their other brother more recently.
Saboor described his brother as a nice, humble person who “had a heart for people.” He said Fesal was frequently with his girlfriend, although she wasn’t with him at the time of the incident.
Saboor said he isn’t sure why his brother was at the 7-Eleven on Tuesday, but that he lived with his family 10 minutes from the store. He said they immigrated to Canada in 2005 for “a better life.”
Investigators said the suspect, who was identified as 30-year-old Toronto resident Ahilan Chandrasekaramoorthy, surrendered to police and was taken into custody just before 12 p.m.
He has been charged with first-degree murder. Chandrasekaramoorthy is scheduled to appear in a Toronto court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, authorities said there is surveillance video inside the store and they are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Police also said there was a fight between two people prior to the stabbing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
The incident marks the 16th homicide in Toronto in 2018.
—With files from David Shum