Toronto

Toronto police identify man shot to death outside North York apartment building

Toronto police have identified the man shot to death outside a North York apartment building early Sunday as 25-year-old Kareem Hirani of Toronto.

Karim Hirani, 25, of Toronto, was shot near Driftwood Avenue and Jane Street shortly after 3:30 a.m. Sunday

Karim Hirani, 25, of Toronto, was shot to death outside a North York apartment building early Sunday, police say. (Facebook)

Toronto police have identified the man shot to death outside a North York apartment building early Sunday as 25-year-old Karim Hirani of Toronto.

Police say they received calls about the shooting east of Driftwood Avenue and Jane Street at about 3:30 a.m. One caller reported the sound of gunshots, the other caller was a friend of the victim.

Police said Sunday afternoon that Hirani was in the company of two other men shortly before the shooting. 

Police tape surrounds an area where a fatal shooting occurred in the area of Driftwood Avenue and Jane Street early Sunday. (Turgut Yeter/CBC)

The three men purchased alcohol and began drinking in a courtyard near a pedestrian bridge that crosses over Driftwood Avenue. 

An unknown man then parked his vehicle in a building parking lot, walked directly toward Hirani, shot him and drove away.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim suffering from one gunshot wound.

Police seeking witnesses

Life-saving efforts were made, but Toronto paramedics later pronounced Hirani dead at the scene.

Surveillance video has been collected from the area and police are reviewing the footage. They plan to release footage and photos when it is suitable to do so.

Investigators say they do not know the motive for the shooting but that it appears to be targeted.

The suspect is believed to have worked alone. Police do not believe the suspect was known to Hirani. 

Investigators are appealing to witnesses, including the two other men who were with Hirani, for information.

A Toronto fire truck is parked near the scene of the shooting. It occurred outside this apartment building. (Turgut Yeter/CBC)

Police say the suspect is a black man in his mid-20s, and investigators believe he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark pants at the time of the shooting.

An autopsy is expected to be performed on the body in the coming days.

Those with information on the shooting can contact Toronto police's Homicide Squad at 416-808-7400 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers. 

Corrections

  • A previous version of this story said that police believed the suspect was known to Hirani. Police in fact said they believe the suspect was not known to Hirani.
    Jul 08, 2018 9:49 PM ET