Peel Regional Police Chief Chris McCord says the shooting in Mississauga that killed a 17-year-old boy and injured five others on Saturday was targeted.
Officers were called to Darcel Avenue near Morning Star Drive just before 6:30 p.m. The shooting is believed to have occurred close to a parkette behind a building complex.
The 17-year-old boy was pronounced dead on the scene. He lived in the complex and police say he was not the intended target of the shooting.
Neighbours and friends of the family have identified the boy as Jonathan Davis.
McCord said the “ambush-type” attack was targeted at a group filming a rap video in the area and some of the victims were innocent bystanders. He added that the victims are not directly related but it is possible that they know each other. It’s unclear if they are all from Mississauga or live in the complex.
A previous music video filmed in the area and released online was the motivation for the attack, he said. Officers are currently reviewing that video, but McCord says there is “information” in it that challenges other people in the community and “that’s what upset [the attackers]”
The suspects were dressed in dark clothing and balaclavas and McCord says they covertly approached on foot from the side of a building. Once they were in position, they “indiscriminately” fired into the parkette area with semi-automatic handguns and then fled on foot.
Peel Region Shooting:
7 suspects involved, dressed in dark clothing, trying to conceal their identity. They open fire in a Parkette, & a number of innocent victims are hit:
17 yr-old male shot dead.
13 yr-old girl
16 yr old
2 17 year old males (1 was released)
Women in her 50’s pic.twitter.com/xBZI8KyVtQ
— Faiza Amin (@Faiza_AminTV) September 15, 2019
One of the victims, a woman in her 50s, was taken to a trauma centre in life-threatening condition. Chief McCord said she is now in stable condition.
Four others also suffered serious injuries — the youngest being a 13-year-old girl. A 16-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys also suffered gunshot wounds. One of the 17-year-old boys has since been released and the other three victims are in stable, non-life-threatening condition.
A witness and family friend tells CityNews the 13-year-old girl recently moved to Canada with her family from Turkey and they are Syrian refugees. She was on the first floor of the building when she heard the shots and when she ran toward the window, she was hit by a bullet.
In a release, police say there are more than seven suspects and over 100 shell casings were found at the scene.
Investigators are looking to speak with the driver of an ice cream truck that was parked in the complex, where families with children were gathered at the time of the attack. As the events unfolded, the truck left the scene and police are asking the driver to identify themselves to aid in the investigation.
McCord said the suspects are still at large but there is no further threat to public safety and stressed that Mississauga remains one of the safest cities in Canada.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie also spoke with media and said she was “crushed” to hear of the “senseless, violent crime” and will advocate for increased funding to combat guns and gangs.
When I spoke to residents in Malton, they were visibly shaken & deeply upset. My thoughts are with the innocent young boy who passed & the victims who are still recovering. I'm advocating for increased funding for a police station in Malton & for our share of gun & gangs funding.
— Bonnie Crombie
Police will remain in the area for a considerable period of time. Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to come forward or leave an anonymous tip with Peel Crime Stoppers.
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