GTA rampage killer was once flagged as ‘high-risk’ to reoffend, third victim is ‘not expected to survive’

The man police say killed a Toronto police officer and a Milton mechanic in a multi-city shooting rampage Monday was in 2007 placed on a national flagging system" for being a high-risk" to re-offend following a conviction on two counts of robbery and carrying a concealed weapon, police said Thursday.

In an update on their sprawling, multi-jurisdiction investigation, Peel Regional Police provided greater detail about Monday's shootings in Mississauga and Milton -which killed Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong and Milton auto mechanic Shakeel Ashraf - and about the gunman, 40-year-old Sean Petrie.

Three other people were injured in Monday's shooting. According to Halton police Chief Stephen Tanner, one of the victims shot in Milton - a 28-year-old international exchange student who works part time in Ashraf's autobody shop - is not expected to survive.

Sadly he remains on life support and is not expected to survive," Tanner said.

Petrie, Peel Regional Police said Thursday, has an extensive criminal record dating back 20 years," though his last conviction was in 2015 for a criminal driving offence.

Details of Petrie's criminal record, including from his parole documents, were previously reported by the Star.

Petrie had no fixed address, Peel police said.

Monday's tragedy was a horrific act of violence that should never occur again," said Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah.

Police say Petrie shot Hong at close range inside a Mississauga Tim Hortons around 2:15 p.m. Monday, a killing they called an ambush."

Hong, police said Thursday, was found deceased inside the restaurant.

The gunman arrived at the Mississauga Tim Hortons two hours and 15 minutes before he shot Hong, Duraiappah said.

Petrie then carjacked a truck, shot the driver in the stomach, then drove to Milton, where he opened fire inside MK Auto Repairs, the Milton auto body shop operated by Ashraf, and where Petrie was a former employee, according to friends and family of Ashraf.

Two others were shot and seriously injured at the shop.

Petrie was then fatally shot by police inside a Hamilton cemetery around 4:30 p.m. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario's police watchdog, is investigating Petrie's death and has designated four subject officers," two from Hamilton Police and two from Halton. The designation means the independent investigative body believes those are the officers who may have caused Petrie's death.

Another 10 Halton officers and seven Hamilton officers have been identified as witnesses.

More to come.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis