A 21-year-old man who was gunned down at a Cabbagetown apartment building Thursday night is the brother of a man who was fatally shot at Eaton Centre last summer, Toronto police say.
There is no evidence that the killings of brothers Nisan and Nixon Nirmalendran are linked, but police have not ruled out that possibility, said homicide squad Det.-Sgt. Terry Browne.
Browne confirmed the victims’ familial connection Friday as he revealed details about the death of Nisan Nirmalendran, who was shot at the entrance to a seniors’ complex at 55 Bleecker St., just north of Carlton Street.
As a female entered the building, gunfire erupted and a window near her was blown out by a gunshot, Browne told reporters at a news conference.
The resident essentially became caught in the crossfire and was trapped in the vestibule as shots rang out.
It appears the victim, who was known to police, used her as a human shield as the suspect shot at him, Browne said.
The woman was not injured.
Surveillance cameras that are pointed at the door captured at least part of the incident before the suspect fled.
“It’s quite disturbing what is captured,” Browne said of the video.
Nisan Nirmalendran was rushed to hospital, where he died of his injuries. His killer is still being sought by police. Police do not know why the victim and suspect were in the building.
In addition to the suspect, Browne said, police are looking for a male who was leaving the complex with Nisan Nirmalendran moments before the shooting occurred.
Police believe the male, described as a person of interest, was the victim's friend.
The male is black and was wearing a milton-style, hooded jacket with a top portion that is darker in colour and sleeves that are a lighter shade of grey, Browne said.
The male was also wearing a white, checkered shirt, Browne said.
Investigators are also looking for two vehicles that were spotted leaving the scene.
One is a Dodge or Town & Country minivan that is silver and possibly between the model years of 2004 and 2008, Browne said.
The second vehicle is an Acura TL with shiny rims and tinted windows. The car is a “lower, sporty version” that may be dark navy blue or black in colour, and is from the 2007 to 2011 model years, Browne said.
Browne said the suspect is a black male who was wearing a charcoal grey-coloured jacket with a hood, dark clothing and a white shirt or “some type of clothing” protruding from the back of his pants.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Nisan Nirmalendran’s 22-year-old brother, Nixon, was one of two men who died in a shooting in the food court at Eaton Centre on June 2, 2012. In that incident, a man is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
@ChrisKitching is on Twitter. For instant breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.
