Police have released surveillance camera images of a male suspect who fatally shot a 47-year-old father of five outside an after-hours bar earlier this month.

Andrew Surage was exiting a bar near Weston Road and Northland Avenue at around 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 5 when a man allegedly approached a friend of his and ripped a chain off his neck.

According to Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson, Surage then intervened and demanded that the suspect return the chain, however the suspect refused and left the area.

Security cameras then captured the suspect walking to a vehicle parked nearby, retrieving a handgun and returning to the area where he had previously robbed Surage’s friend.

At that point, Gibson says the suspect produced the handgun, shot Surage once in the chest and then fled the scene in a vehicle believed to be a dark-coloured Honda Accord.

Police refuse to say whether or not the actual shooting was caught on surveillance camera.

“Once the robbery took place there was some interaction between Mr. Surage, the victim of the robbery and the suspect but we have no reason to believe they did anything other than protest the robbery,” Gibson told reporters on Thursday morning. “Why he came back and decided to shoot is something that only he knows.”

Police have released surveillance camera images of the suspect and three people – two men and one woman – who he arrived at the after-hours bar with and was seen with throughout the night.

Gibson said police believe that at least one of the friends witnessed the robbery while another likely saw the suspect stashing the gun in his car prior to entering the bar.

“I believe these persons of interest are aware that the suspect had access to the gun and further that those same persons of interest are aware that the suspect sought Mr. Surage,” Gibson said. “I would like to advise them to contact me if they have a conscience and tell me what you know.”

Witnesses fled the scene

Though the after-hours bar was busy on the night in question, Gibson said police have had a hard time tracking down witnesses.

In fact the detective noted that surveillance camera footage showed a number of people fleeing the scene prior to the arrival of policers.

“Investigators are in the process of contacting some of the patrons who fled the scene, so even if you didn’t witness the shooting I urge you to call me,” Gibson said.

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