'HORRIFIC': Woman and pet dog dead in latest 'targeted' shooting of Markham home
A man was also injured in the home that's been the scene of gunfire multiple times since 2018
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A 20-year-old woman and one of her family’s pet dogs were shot dead after a Friday morning home invasion in Markham also sent one of her brothers to hospital.
Const. Kevin Nebrija of York Regional Police said around 6:30 a.m. they received information of shots fired inside a home on Solace Rd., near Markham Rd. and Castlemore Ave.
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“When officers arrived two adults were located (in the home) suffering from gunshots wounds,” said Nebrija. “A dog was also located. It was shot and is deceased.”
The two victims were transported to a hospital trauma centre in Toronto with one being pronounced “deceased” in hospital and the other listed in serious condition.
“Two suspects were seen fleeing the residence and entering a newer model four-door black Acura TLX,” said Nebrija. “This is being investigated as a targeted shooting.”
Throughout the day, a police helicopter was seen patrolling the surrounding area.
Nebrija explained the home has been the target of shootings — five times since 2018. He said two shootings occurred in 2018 and three more last year within the span of a month, beginning in late February during the daytime.
A neighbour who is close to the family but didn’t want to be identified said he is scared for his family. He believes Friday’s incident is part of an ongoing war involving the towing industry.
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“It seems to be a tow truck war,” said the man. “Or some kind of thing going on. We are not exactly sure.”
The neighbour also said he knew the people living inside the home are involved with a towing business.
“At the end of the day if there was a super-innocent person that got involved in this it is horrific that it got to this level,” said the man.
“And I’m really hoping it is not who we think it is.”
He added that it was “sad that it came down to an innocent, totally saint-like person” who was killed.
The neighbour said he and his family didn’t hear the original commotion and shooting but were awoken as police and medics arrived at the home.
One of the man’s family members said it appeared paramedics “were doing chest compressions on her” as the victim was on a stretcher being removed from the home. The sibling was taken out of the home on a yellow wheelchair-like device to be transported to hospital.
The man explained that after all the shootings that took place last year, police installed visible surveillance cameras in the area to watch over the neighbourhood. However, they were removed a few months ago.
“Those cameras were protecting what was happening on the street,” he said. “And what happened (Friday) was unexpected and when they took the cameras away from the street it got worse.”
According to the man, the family owned two German Shepherd dogs.
“They were guard dogs,” said the man. “Lets get real here.”
Later Friday, police identified Nilakshi Raguthas as the homicide victim and added the survivor of the attack was a 26-year-old man.
Neighbours said he is the eldest of two brothers.
One of the members of the targeted family was involved in the towing business and possibly worked for two companies over the years, some residents said.
Almost a year ago, on March 8, 2024, police responded to the same home for the sounds of gunshots and found it had been struck multiple times by gunfire.
Investigators at the time shared a short video online of the incident that showed a man walking up to the driveway in broad daylight and firing several shots before running away to an awaiting car on Castlemore Ave.
Eight days prior, on Feb. 28, the home was shot up.
Another area resident who lives nearby and didn’t want to be identified said behind the crack of his door that he was fearful after all the shootings. Like other homes in the area, there are surveillance and doorbell cameras affixed at the front.
Police were seen going up and down the street knocking on doors looking for video footage.
It is York Region’s third homicide of the year.
Meanwhile, in the past week, there have been four shootings and three injuries in the GTA that police link to the tow truck industry.
The recent incidents occurred in Etobicoke, the old city of York, Scarborough and Ajax.
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