Toronto police have released images of a suspect in a fatal double shooting in North York on Tuesday that left two men in their 20s dead.
The shooting happened in the area of Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue at about 2:17 p.m.
Police have identified the victims as Ibrahim Handule, 26, and Deshawn Walters, 27, both from Toronto.
Det.-Sgt. Phillip Campbell, of the police’s homicide and missing persons unit, told reporters on Thursday that an altercation between three men escalated into an exchange of gunfire that resulted in the two deaths.
Handule is the city’s 61st homicide victim of the year, while Walters is the 62nd.
Campbell said the suspect is believed to be one of the shooters. He said police have no other suspects. He said the victims and suspects may have known each other, and they appear to be familiar with the community.
“We understand how distressing this situation is for the community,” he said. “We share your commitment to bringing the person responsible for the senseless violence to justice.”
Campbell said police recovered two firearms and believe that both were used.
The shooting happened at a Toronto Community Housing complex and appears to have occurred in a parking lot.
Toronto police released this image on Thursday of a suspect wanted in a fatal double shooting on Tuesday. (Submitted by Toronto Police Service)
According to a news release on Thursday, neighbourhood officers from 31 Division heard gunshots in the area and found the two victims with injuries. The officers performed CPR on the victims, police said.
One man was declared dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Campbell said police are working to determine the sequence of events and who fired which shots.
Investigators are appealing for help from the public in identifying the suspect.
Command post set up in area, police say
Insp. Jack Gurr, of Toronto police’s 31 Division, said police are “very concerned” about the gun violence in the neighbourhood and have set up a command post in the area. He said it will remain in the area as long as it is needed.
“We’re bringing officers in on overtime. We are doing extra patrols in the neighbourhood. We’ve been doing extra patrols actually all summer, for that reason, because we are so concerned. We have the command post behind us that we’ve brought out as a result of what’s happened now,” he said.
Toronto police have identified the victims of a fatal shooting that happened in North York this week. (CBC)
Gurr urged members of the public to come forward if they recognize the suspect.
“Community safety and well-being is a shared responsibility. It’s not just the police department’s position. It’s all of ours, so please make the right call,” he said.
The suspect is described as male, 18 to early 20s, short with a stocky build. Police said he has dreadlocks with a beard.
The suspect is described as male, 18 to early 20s, short with a stocky build. Police said he has dreadlocks with a beard. (Submitted by Toronto Police Service)