Man found dead after daytime Scarborough shooting marks new Toronto homicide record

Toronto police have released the identity of a man killed following a daytime shooting in Scarborough on Sunday.

The shooting, police say, represents Toronto’s 90th homicide of 2018.

Investigators said the call was received around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, reporting the sound of gunshots in the area of Lawrence Avenue East and Kingston Road.

Toronto police said they located shell casings in a nearby building.

The victim, identified on Monday as 23-year-old Cardinal Licorish of Ajax, suffered from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene.

They said the report was initially received as two separate calls, one for someone who had fallen and another for someone shot. The two calls, however, are now considered to have involved the same victim.

Officers said the death is now ruled a homicide and an investigation is ongoing.

2:20 Toronto’s deadliest year on record: A look back at homicides that happened in 2018

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• Man found dead after daytime Scarborough shooting marks new homicide record: Toronto police
• Looking back at 1991, Toronto’s previous grim mark for homicides

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Toronto’s previous record year for murders was in 1991 with 89 homicides, until it was tied again on Nov. 14 of this year.

Mayor John Tory said in a statement Sunday evening that the homicide is not something anyone can accept.

“The people of Toronto know there is no magic answer, and we all pray that events like the Yonge Street van attack, which took 10 lives earlier this year, will never happen again,” he said.

“But people do have the right to expect their governments will work together to reduce violent crime.”

Tory said the city is working well with the provincial and federal governments to provide more support to police and “toughen up bail practices” as well as strengthen gun laws and invest in kids and families.

“I am absolutely determined to see us do better next year and every future year. I know with the public’s help, we can keep Toronto safe.”

–With files from Matthew Bingley