Suspects sought after Toronto man, 20, slain in North York shooting

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Toronto homicide officers said they are on the hunt for four armed suspects who allegedly gunned down a 20-year-old man in the Falstaff Ave. area just before midnight on Monday night.

Det.-Sgt. Mike Taylor identified Ajay Simpson, 20, of Toronto, as the city’s 42nd homicide victim of the year. He was shot to death.

Taylor, speaking at the scene on Tuesday, said police are looking for a white or light-coloured SUV that was possibly circling the area through the parking lots and driveways located east of of Jane St.

“I can identify within that white SUV there were four persons that exited the vehicle,” Taylor said. “I can tell you that all four of the individuals were armed with handguns.”

Taylor said “multiple shots were fired” at the victim before the suspects fled the scene.

“Unfortunately at this point, I don’t have much of a description of the persons armed with the firearms,” said Taylor. “Obviously, you can see there are multiple (surveillance) cameras and that is what we are actively investigating.”

Taylor said it was “early in the investigation” and that he wouldn’t “close any options” when asked if the incident was targeted.

About 50 police markers were seen on the grassy areas and sidewalks on the south side of buildings stretching from 20 Falstaff Ave. to 40 Falstaff Ave.

A resident of one of the buildings, Eddie Emly, said he was upset and saddened after learning about the shooting that killed Simpson, who Emly said used to live across the hallway from him. He said Simpson would come to his apartment after school and do homework with his daughters.

Emly said Simpson moved away from the Falstaff area years ago, but still came back to visit friends in the community.

“I’ve talked to him in his adult stage and he is still calm and still cool,” said Emly. “So when I’m not seeing him, I don’t know what he is dealing with or who his friends are.”

“He was more on the calm side, more quiet, he wasn’t a rowdy individual.”

Emly’s voiced wavered as he explained what he heard and saw Monday night before and after the shooting.

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He said he had been watching cricket when he heard loud sounds like an empty truck going over speed bumps. He thought nothing of it until he started receiving text messages from neighbours and friends that somebody was shot.

He said he came outside and saw paramedics pumping on a young man’s chest, but couldn’t make out who it was because they had an oxygen mask on and were in the process of being rushed to a hospital in an ambulance.

It wasn’t until shortly after that and throughout Tuesday that he received texts from friends who said Simpson was the victim.

Investigators are asking witnesses or anyone who was in the area at the time and may have information to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at 222tips.com.