Toronto MPP Introduces Bill Targeting Guns In Vehicles

Tuesday April 8, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

Toronto Mayor David Miller has long called for Ottawa to step in and push forth the handgun ban he's championed for years, and while that remains unlikely, he's getting at least a little support from Ontario MPP Mike Colle, who will introduce a private member's bill targeting firearms in vehicles on Wednesday.

The move also comes a day after Toronto's latest incident of gunplay, a bizarre double shooting on Lawrence East Tuesday afternoon.

The bill, entitled the "Unlawful Firearms in Vehicles Act," would give police the authority to immediately suspend a person's driver's licence and impound their vehicle if there's reason to believe a firearm is somewhere inside.

For a first offence the driver's licence would be suspended for one year, for a second the toll would be five years and a third incident would result in a lifetime without a licence. Moreover, a $10,000 fine or imprisonment for up to six months could be heaped on top of the suspension.

Colle, MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence, plans to introduce the bill in response to what his release claims is an "ongoing number of gun-related crimes in our communities, and a growing pattern of unlawful firearms within vehicles..."

Though private member's bills rarely pass, should it get the unlikely nod this would be the first legislation of its kind in Canada.

Cops Release Chilling Security Video Of A Murder In Progress

Monday March 17, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

The video that accompanies this story is very disturbing. Discretion is advised.

It is a chilling video and if you watch it, you'll see a cold blooded murder in action.

But you'll also see something else - the gunman responsible and another man police desperately want to talk to.

The shooter is the person police say walked boldly up a path towards 87 Amaranth Court in the Dufferin and Allen area on Friday night, pulled a gun and without a second's pause, began firing straight at the six men assembled in front of a Lawrence Heights housing complex.

He then backs away while still firing and both he and the other man are seen fleeing in the opposite direction.

See the video here

Cops have taken the controversial step of releasing the shocking scene from security video at the building, hoping someone knows who the shooter is - and why he did it.

Police admit it's a disturbing bit of footage but think it's important the public be able to see it. "He simply walked up within 10 feet of the group, got their attention and without warning, opened fire while walking backwards," explains Det. Sgt. Brian Borg.

He adds the gunman intended to inflict as much damage as possible, and in that goal at least, he succeeded. By the time the suspect fled, six people, aged 18 to 21, were all down. One of them, 18-year-old Abdikarim Ahmed Abdikarim, was dead, struck in the head by one of the bullets.

But it's what the video doesn't show that's equally frightening. The men were standing at the entrance to the building, unable to go forward - where the shots were coming from - and trapped by two walls on either side. Their only avenue of retreat was the door behind them - and it was locked tight. There was nowhere for them to run and no way for them to get out of the way.

Cops refuse to say how many bullets were fired, but indicate some of the victims were hit by the same projectiles. But Borg takes pains to note the six people shot weren't doing anything wrong, nor were they known to have been involved in anything that would have attracted the attention of the law.

"Our investigation to date shows that these young men, at the time of the incident, were not engaged in any criminal conduct or behaviour ... Simply put, they were there socializing, as they often did ... every Friday night."

But he makes it clear they were the intended targets and that the gunman didn't miss.

Cops especially want to talk to the person seen walking up to the scene with the killer. They aren't sure if he knew what was coming or was taken by surprise when the shootings began.

Detectives still have no motive but say the victims are cooperating, something they don't always get in cases like this. Their only description of the suspect is vague:

Black,
5'8"-6',
160-170 lbs.,
Facial hair on the chin,
Possible chipped tooth.
He was wearing a long white shirt under his black jacket and a baseball cap with a white logo. He was armed with a silver handgun, which cops say was the only weapon involved.

A silver or grey car was seen speeding away from a nearby parking lot after the shooting and authorities have yet to find it.

Police have increased patrols in the area to try and reassure residents but few are feeling more secure.

Abdikarim's murder was the 11th homicide in Toronto this year.

If you have any information, call the Homicide Squad at (416) 808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS.

North York Gunfire Kills Teen, Wounds Five Others

North York Gunfire Kills Teen, Wounds Five Others
Saturday March 15, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

Toronto suffered its 11th homicide of 2008 Friday night, but as hard as it is to imagine, the tragedy could have been much greater.

An 18-year-old was gunned down, but five others were also taken to hospital following the gunfire on Amaranth Court near Lawrence and Allen Rd. just before 10pm. All are expected to pull through after suffering wounds to the arms and legs.

Exactly what led to the brazen shooting - which occurred near a playground and in a courtyard directly behind several homes - isn't clear, but police allege a group of men were assembled on the street when they were confronted by at least one gunman.

Abdikarim Ahmed Abdikarim, 18, was hit in the head and later died in hospital.

Police spent Saturday canvassing the area for clues, though detectives insist the biggest lead comes from a security camera in the area.

"There is video surveillance which we are reviewing at this time," confirmed Toronto Homicide Det. Sgt. Brian Borg. "Which we hope will be able to provide us with a better description of the persons who are responsible."

Those that live nearby were understandably shaken Saturday.

"It's kind of shocking just to know that I'm living right here," said Simone Gordon, who lives just steps from where the bullets flew.

"It's scary," added Fortune Jones. "I'm pretty comfortable coming out in my area but now ... I'm thinking."

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a silver or grey four-door vehicle driving out of the area after the shootings. Police are looking for at least two suspects.

If you can help with the investigation call the Toronto Police Homicide Squad at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Two Dead After Multiple Shooting

Friday February 1, 2008

CityNews.ca Staff

A multiple shooting in the city has left two people dead and police probing a real mystery at 1360 Danforth Rd. near Eglinton.

At least one other victim, said to be a man in his 20s, was wounded but is expected to be O.K.

Police were called around 2pm after residents heard gunshots and a man's body was discovered lying near an elevator on the 16th floor of the high rise apartment complex. The area was immediately cordoned off, as heavily armed ETF officers searched for the shooter and the weapon that inflicted so much carnage.

But it now appears that hunt may be over. There are indications police may think one of the victims could be the gunman, although it's not clear if it's the wounded person or either of the deceased. Investigators are saying very little about what happened and there's no clear indication if a fourth person may actually be involved.

The apartment building was locked down after the bullets flew as bewildered residents wondered what was going on inside and when they'd be allowed back in. They finally were, after enduring what seemed like an eternity waiting in the frigid lobby and in some cases outside in the snowy cold.

Many complain cops are making too many regular visits to the building to investigate ongoing troubles and they no longer feel safe living there.

Click here here to see video:

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_19193.aspx

Neighbours report no past problems at home where body discovered

'We see them (the people living in the house) in the summer, but we didn’t have any direct contact with them'

PICKERING -- The second murder of the year in Durham Region happened just blocks from the site of the first incident.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, Jan. 26, Durham Regional Police were called to 1675 Hollyhedge Dr. in Pickering in the Major Oaks and Brock roads area in response to a shooting.

Police found one dead man inside the house and a second suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The injured man, a Pickering resident, was taken to hospital for treatment.

The name of the murdered man, also believed to be a Pickering resident, is being withheld pending identification.

On Monday morning, as children were heading off to school and people were out walking dogs, yellow police tape still surrounded two houses and a pair of cruisers were still posted outside the house.

Joe Rajab, who lives near the site, says, “A detective came over early Saturday morning when the incident first happened. I didn’t see any suspicious activity. They were very hard-working individuals.”

Mr. Rajab, whose wife is expecting the couple’s first child, says this sort of incident is “unheard of” in the neighbourhood.

“It’s a quiet community, quiet area,” he says. “It’s pretty shocking.

“We see them (the people living in the house) in the summer, but we didn’t have any direct contact with them,” Mr. Rajab adds.

Other neighbours said they never spoke with the people living in the house, but had seen them around.

A man whose house backs onto the murder scene says they didn’t hear anything. “We were all sleeping.”

As for any problems at the house, he says, “Not that I heard of.”

Police believe the shooting occurred inside the residence, although it is unclear at this point whether either or both of the men lived in the house. The investigation is continuing and no arrests have been made.

This is the second murder in Pickering this year. The body of Khristian Gerri Ottley, 23, of Valley Farm Road was found Jan. 15 in a car in a ravine area off Valley Farm Road, north of Finch Avenue around 4 p.m. No arrest has been made in Mr. Ottley’s murder.

Anyone with information about Saturday’s murder is asked to call the DRPS Homicide Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5326. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

Pickering's second murder of 2008

PICKERING -- A quiet Pickering neighbourhood where large family homes line the street became the scene of Durham Region's second murder of the year early this morning.

Shortly after midnight Durham Regional Police were called to 1675 Holly Hedge Drive in Pickering in the Major Oaks and Brock Roads area in response to a shooting.

Police found one dead man inside the residence and a second suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The injured man, a Pickering resident, was taken to hospital for treatment. The name of the murdered man, also believed to be a Pickering resident, is being withheld pending identification.

Police believe the shooting occurred inside the residence although it is unclear at this point whether either or both of the men lived in the house. The investigation is continuing and no arrests have been made.

This is the second murder in Pickering this year. The body of Khristian Gerri Ottley, 23, of Valley Farm Road. was found Jan. 15 in a car in a ravine area off Valley Farm Road, north of Hwy. 2 around 4 p.m. No arrest has been made in Mr. Ottley's murder.

Anyone with information about today's murder is asked to call the DRPS Homicide Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5326. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

GMW-2007 Toronto Gun Violence Victims+Prevention Programs