Video shows slain Toronto rapper Houdini targeted in gunfight
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Disturbing video depicts a frantic downtown gunfight between a slain Toronto rapper’s pals and an assassin that risked killing innocent bystanders, including a six-year-old boy who was narrowly missed by ricocheting bullets.
Toronto Police have released security camera footage showing two pals of Houdini, whose real name is Dimarjio Jenkins, returning fire after an unidentified hitman wearing a surgical mask ambushed the unarmed hip-hop artist as he strolled along Blue Jay Way near the Bisha Hotel around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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Jenkins’ buddies are seen backpedalling rapidly while simultaneously firing at the killer. One Jenkins’ friend dropped his weapon after it jammed, then bolted for his life, the video showed.
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In total, 23 shots were fired and two 9 mm firearms — one with an extra-capacity magazine — were recovered. The killer’s 40-calibre weapon fired 13 shots, the rest came from the 9 mm guns.
“The little boy was exactly in the line of gunfire,” Homicide Det. Sgt. Andy Singh said Thursday. “The gunman has a complete disregard for human life.”
The detective implored the public to help investigators identify the killer and one of Houdini’s associates who was captured on video in a nearby Wahlburgers restaurant minutes after the shooting.
“We need a name. We need every piece of evidence anyone might have,” said Singh.
The barrage of bullets could easily have claimed more lives.
“You can see the dust rising as the bullets land (near the boy). His mother stood nearby, securing items in their car (as the gunfire erupted),” said Singh.
“A lot of innocent people’s lives could have been put in jeopardy by what transpired on a downtown Toronto street during rush-hour,” said Singh. “There could have been many more casualties as there were numerous people on the street on a beautiful day.”
He said an innocent 27-year-old female bystander suffered a single bullet wound but is expected to recover completely.
Jenkins was the target of the gunman who lay in wait in a parked blue Tiguan SUV for 40 minutes on Blue Jay Way, then pulled a U-turn in front of Jenkins as the rapper and three friends walked north toward King St. W.
The killer exited the SUV from the front passenger seat and opened fire on Houdini and his friends. Two of Jenkins’ pals immediately pulled out their weapons, scrambling backwards and firing back against the assassin while shocked bystanders watched the chaotic scene.
No motive for the unprovoked killing has been determined.
A 15-year-old associate of Jenkins, who cannot be legally identified, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was charged with gun offences. The other two Jenkins’ associates are still at large.
The murderer and the murder weapon are still at large.
Police said the getaway car, which the killer’s group had been using for a month, was found torched in York Region.
Officers are combing over the vehicle, looking for DNA, fingerprints and any other forensic evidence, which could identify the culprits, said Singh.
Houdini, who grew up in the Jane-Driftwood neighbourhood and had millions of views on his YouTube videos, is one of five GTA rappers who have been gunned down in recent months. Houdini had collaborated with at least two of the other murdered artists.
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