Five men coming from Ramadan prayers injured after drive-by shooting in Scarborough parking lot
The Toronto police hate crime unit is looking into a recent drive-by shooting as a precaution,' but a local Muslim association says it does not believe hate was a motive.
Five Muslim men, who had just finished Ramadan prayers at a nearby mosque, suffered serious injuries after a shooting at a Scarborough strip mall parking lot Saturday morning.
Toronto police were called to investigate a drive-by shooting in the parking lot of Cedar Heights Plaza, in the area of Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East just after 1 a.m.
The victims had just finished offering Taraweeh prayers' (special nightly prayers offered during Ramadan) at the Scarborough Muslim Cultural Centre nearby, Yusuf Ingar, secretary of the Scarborough Muslim Association, told the Star Sunday. They had gathered in the plaza's parking lot to decide where to eat, he added.
An occupant of a vehicle drove by the group and shots were fired from the moving vehicle," police said in a statement Sunday.
Chief James Ramer said Saturday afternoon that the investigation is in its early stages, and a motive behind the shooting cannot be confirmed. TPS spokesperson David Hopkinson told the Star in a statement that the Hate Crime Unit had been engaged as a precaution."
Ingar said that the organization does not believe this was a hate crime at this point.
We believe it's absolutely essential the suspects are apprehended before we can begin to heal as a community," he said.
We're working with 43 division and hopeful that TPS will put adequate resources to investigate this shooting."
All the victims, ranging in age from 28 to 35, suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Two victims were transported to a trauma centre, two others to a hospital, and the fifth made his own way to the hospital, police added.
By Sunday morning, three of the five victims had been discharged from hospital, according to police.
Suspect information has not been released, but police said a blue car was seen leaving the scene. Police said casings and bullet holes were found in the area.
We are still gathering information, evidence, and witness accounts," Hopkinson said.
Police requested anyone with information about this incident to contact them at 416-808-2510, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
Correction - April 17, 2022, 11:26 a.m.: This story has been updated from a previous version that incorrectly stated that the shooting occurred outside of a mosque.
With files from Ashima Agnihotri and Isaac Phan Nay
Akrit Michael is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: amichael@thestar.ca