Fatal shooting in downtown Kitchener leads police on high-speed pursuit

A late morning, fatal shooting in downtown Kitchener led Waterloo Regional Police on a high-speed pursuit across several regions and into Mississauga on Thursday morning.

Police say they received multiple 911 calls of a shooting near the intersection of Pandora Avenue and King Street in Kitchener at around 11 a.m. Thursday.

READ MORE: Kitchener woman arrested after attempt to flee from OPP

Upon arrival, they found a man who was dead near the New Directions halfway house in what police believe is a targeted killing.

WATCH: Suspect vehicle leads police on high-speed pursuit after fatal shooting in Kitchener

2:44 Suspect vehicle leads police on high speed pursuit after fatal shooting in Kitchener

“The incident is under investigation,” Waterloo police Insp. Craig Ambrose told Global News. “I can’t say that it relates to a previous beef or anything like that but I can say that it doesn’t appear to be a random attack.”

A witness told Global News she heard several gunshots at the time of the shooting.

READ MORE: 2 Waterloo officers injured, 2 cruisers damaged in stolen vehicle investigation

Police were told that two suspects were seen fleeing the area in a white, four-door Mercedes C230 which was headed eastbound on Highway 401.

Waterloo police said they called other agencies to notify them of the situation as the car entered their jurisdictions.

The vehicle left Highway 401 at Highway 6 southbound but reversed course and returned to Highway 401. While in pursuit, a police SUV collided with a pickup truck. Both the officer and the driver of the pickup truck were left with minor injuries.

Halton police said they were assisting Waterloo police and the OPP in pursuit of a Mercedes C230. The vehicle left Highway 401 at Trafalgar Road and headed south.

Waterloo police say the vehicle was last spotted in Mississauga, near Highway 401 in the Erin Mills area.

As a result of the investigation, Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute and the Edith MacIntosh Children’s Centre were placed on a hold-and-secure as a cautionary measure but that has been lifted.

Thursday’s shooting death was Waterloo’s fifth homicide of 2018.

READ MORE: Kitchener man charged with 2nd-degree murder in death of Ronald Chandler

Police are asking anyone who may have seen a white Mercedes driving in the area of Pandora Avenue and King Street on Thursday morning to call them at 519-570-9777 ext. 8666 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.