Man dies after 'targeted' double shooting at AirBnB property in Newmarket

A 26-year-old man is dead following a "targeted" shooting in Newmarket Friday night, which also left a 23-year-old woman injured, York Regional Police say.

Police responded to a call around Colter Street in Newmarket just after 9 p.m., Staff Sgt. Marc Hilliker told CBC Toronto.

EMS found two victims — a man and a woman — with gunshot wounds.

Hilliker said the victims were brought to hospital where the man died. The woman is in hospital, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The homicide unit has taken over the investigation, Hilliker said.

Homicides investigators believe a dark-coloured four-door sedan pulled up in front of a house that the victims had rented on AirBnB, said Const. Andy Pattenden.

Pattenden says two male suspects got out of the car and shot the victims, who were inside a white vehicle in front of the house.

"There were numerous shots at who we believe were targeted victims," Pattenden told reporters at the scene.

"After the shooting the men got back in that dark-coloured vehicle and drove away from the scene."

Pattenden said both victims are from Toronto.

Seeking the public's help

Pattenden said they have a limited suspect descriptions, but one was wearing a dark-coloured shirt. Police are seeking the public's help and are asking for any dash-cam video that may have captured the suspects.

Police believe someone drove "right by" the house during the shooting, he said, urging them to come forward.

"As we've seen recently here in the York region the gun violence has no municipal boundaries. This is just another case where someone has brought guns into York region and is not afraid to use them," he said.

"That's one of the best things here in this community — we do have the support from the community. We will figure out who these people are and I'm urging the suspects at this point in time to seek legal counsel and turn yourself in."

Pauline Metalinos, who has been living in the area for nearly 13 years, said the shooting happened just down the street from her home.

"Nothing like that has ever happened here," Metalinos told CBC Toronto. "The most we've had is teenagers stealing coins from cars."

Staff Sgt. Aaron Busby said the area was heavily populated with neighbours at the time of the shooting.

'It's very concerning' 

Nearby resident Jeff Anthony says after years without gun violence in the neighbourhood, "it's astounding" that Saturday's incident has disrupted the peace. 

"It's astounding. It's shocking. It's very concerning," he told CBC Toronto Saturday. "This is an area where there's families, young children ... young or old, no one should be subjected to this kind of thing." 

Now he says it's up to politicians to curb incidents like these. 

"I, for one, feel our politicians should be looking into this and dealing with it," Anthony said.