Toronto police have identified a 38-year-old man killed in a shooting in the city's east end Thursday afternoon.
Police say the victim was shot while doing landscaping in the backyard of his house on Mantis Road, in the Morningside and Finch avenues area, shortly before 3 p.m.
The victim, identified by police as Surendra Vaithalingam, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say Vaithalingam lived in the house with his wife and four-year-old son, who celebrated his birthday yesterday.
Police believe Vaithalingam was targeted.
“We’ve reviewed a lot of video that we’ve captured from the surrounding houses in the area,” Det. Sgt. Justin Vander Heyden told CP24 Thursday night.
Vander Heyden said three males approached Vaithalingam’s house from the north on foot and peered into the backyard.
They were then seen running northbound from the scene to a waiting getaway car parked on the next block.
Police are currently searching for three male suspects in connection with the shooting.
The first is described as black, five-foot-four to five-foot-six with a dark complexion and a ponytail on the top of his head.
He was last seen wearing dark clothing. Police also say he speaks with a heavy Jamaican accent.
The second suspect is described as black, five-foot-four with a dark complexion.
He was last seen wearing dark clothing.
The third suspect is described as brown, with a light complexion and straight hair.
He was last seen wearing dark clothing including dark slacks.
Police believe the third suspect was the driver of the getaway vehicle.
Police are also looking for a four-door vehicle with faded blue paint in connection with the shooting.
“I would like the local residents of this community to come forward if they’ve got some surveillance footage from their own personal security systems,” Vander Heyden said. “It might be a great assistance to us.”
