Toronto vehicle rental business supplied Karim Hirani killer's getaway car

Gang bangers and other criminals can not only rent a firearm in the city, they can also now rent getaway cars.

Toronto Police believe the gunman who executed Karim Hirani outside of a North York government housing high rise last weekend was driving such an off-the-books, no-questions-asked rental car.

And catching the killer may prove especially difficult.

“It’s mostly a cash business,” Homicide Det.-Sgt. Mike Carbone said Wednesday, explaining the vehicle in question is one of more than a dozen registered to a numbered company.

Unlike a traditional car rental business, he said, renters don’t have to show a valid driver’s licence, sign a contract or provide a credit card for payment.

“You can see why individuals may want to use this service to maintain their anonymity,” Carbone said.

Hirani was gunned down around 3:30 a.m. last Sunday at 415 Driftwood Ave. — northeast of Jane St. and Finch Ave. W.

Investigators have determined the 25-year-old was drinking with two other men and decided to keep the party going into the wee hours.

“It appears that the three men purchased some alcohol and commenced drinking in the courtyard very near a pedestrian bridge,” Carbone said.

Minutes later, an unidentified man drove into the building’s parking lot, backed into a spot, exited the vehicle and headed towards the trio.

“This unknown male then walks directly towards the deceased and shoots him,” Carbone said, adding a single shot was fired striking Hirani in the head.

The killer then dashed back to the vehicle and drove off.

Hirani worked in construction and was not known to police, Carbone said, adding it’s not yet known why he was targeted.

The veteran investigator said it’s possible the gunman either rented the car specifically to commit the murder, “or for other nefarious acts.”

The car — a dark Nissan Maxima with Ontario licence plate CCES 572 — has to yet been located.

Carbon said several people are believed to be associated to the numbered company that owns the car and police have reached out to this people but so far have not been able to question them.

“They can certainly advance this investigation by providing us the name of the person who they rented this vehicle to,” he said.

However, Carbone doubts the killer provided his real name.

He said other homicide investigators have encountered similar car rental companies.

“It’s becoming more prevalent now,” Carbone said. “It just seems to me that these folks are taking advantage of the system by essentially getting legitimate cars and having some anonymity because they’re attached to a numbered company.”

Police have spoken to one of Hirani’s pals who stuck around. The other, who took off, has been identified but cops have not been able to talk to him.

Investigators released security footage of the suspect and the vehicle in the hopes members of the public will come forward.
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