York Regional Police say a “gaming operation” was run out of the back of Woodbridge’s Moka Café, where two people were shot to death and another two were wounded in a brazen assault two weeks ago.
Investigators are still not sure whether the games are in any way connected to the shooting that took place at the café, located near the intersection of Islington Avenue and Highway 7 on the morning of June 24.
At 8:18 a.m. that morning, York Regional Police said a man walked into Moka Café and shot four people, killing 47-year-old Maria Voci and 24-year-old Christopher Desimone. Rocco Di Paola, a former Toronto mayoral candidate and businessman, along with one other unidentified man were wounded but survived the shooting.
Both surviving victims have now been released from hospital, police said Wednesday. Const. Andy Pattenden says police found cards tables and electronic slot machines in the rear of the café.
Police are looking for a suspect described as a black male standing about six feet tall, with a muscular build. He is considered armed and dangerous. The stolen vehicle used to surveil the scene prior to the crime and get away after the shooting, a black Nissan Versa hatchback, was recovered by Toronto police in Etobicoke last week. It was stolen from the driveway of a home in Napanee between June 18 and June 19.
Pattenden said police want the suspect in the shooting to get a lawyer and turn himself in to police.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police 1-866-876-5423, ext. 2411 or by email at homicide@yrp.ca.
