Two 17-year-old brothers have been identified as suspects wanted on first-degree murder charges in connection with a “targeted” deadly shooting in Brampton earlier this month.
Peel police officers were intially called to a residential area near Edenbrook Hill Drive and Earlsbridge Boulevard shortly after 3:30 p.m. on July 5 following reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived, they say they found a 20-year-old Brampton man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
“The victim was shot multiple times,” Det.-Sgt. Adam Minnion said Saturday. “He was struck, and unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.”
The victim was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite emergency life-saving efforts. Police are not releasing his identity at the request of his family.
Investigators initially said the victim and the suspects were involved in an altercation before the shooting. Minnion said police now believe the victim was targeted and that the suspects were known to him, although investigators are still trying to determine the nature of their relationship.
“We don’t think that they were strangers. We do believe that the victim was targeted,” Minnion said.
On Friday, police identified the suspects as Brampton residents Shemii Whittaker and Shemel Whittaker, both 17. They are each wanted on one count of first-degree murder.
Police obtained a court order lifting the publication ban that normally protects the identities of young persons charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, allowing investigators to publicly identify the suspects and release their photographs until July 22.
Minnion said investigators sought the order because of public safety concerns.
“We felt, as investigators, that the public safety component was moderate to significant enough that the public ought to know the names of and identities of those alleged to have committed the murder,” he said.
Police said the brothers should be considered armed and dangerous and urged members of the public not to approach them if they are seen.
“The concern is we’re dealing with a murder where a firearm was used and the firearm has yet to be recovered,” Minnion said.
Investigators believe the suspects may also have connections to Toronto and are urging them to surrender.
“We’re urging themselves, if they’re listening, to contact counsel of their choice and turn themselves in to the closest police department that they know of,” Minnion said.
The charges have not been proven in court.
With files from CTV News’ Joshua McGinnis
