Jelena Loncar killing: police announce $50,000 reward for information leading to arrests
Toronto police are offering a $50,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of suspects in the killing of Jelena Loncar, the 32-year-old woman who died in a shooting outside the C Lounge nightclub two years ago.
Loncar died when shots were fired outside the club in the early morning hours of Aug. 26, 2014. Loncar was shot once in the chest and died in hospital. She worked as a server in Toronto.
"She was an innocent bystander who was caught in the line of fire," said Det. Andy Singh at a news conference Friday.
Loncar's younger sister Lana Loncar was also at the news conference and said even though "there is no happy ending to this story" her family still wants justice for Jelena.
"My sister will never get to celebrate another birthday, or get married, or have kids, or do anything at all," said Lana Loncar.
"All of those choices were taken away from her. They were taken away by someone brave enough to pull the trigger, but now hides like a coward."
A man was also struck in the shooting but survived. Police believe the man, who was known to police, was the intended target.
Loncar waited to wish a friend happy birthday
Before the shooting, Singh says that a group of male suspects arrived at the nightclub in three cars and entered the crowd outside where Loncar was waiting to wish a friend happy birthday.
The men approached two men, including the one who they shot, and allegedly attempted to steal gold chains from them. The man who was shot resisted and then one of the suspects took out a gun and began firing into the crowd.
The man with the gold chain tried to run away and was shot multiple times, but recovered in hospital.
Composite sketch of suspect released
Toronto Police released a composite sketch of the man investigators believe tried to steal the chains. The detective described the suspect as a black man in his 20s with gold grills on his teeth.
Investigators do not believe the robbery was the motive for the shooting. Singh says the suspects were there to target the male who was shot.
Police also re-released information on three suspect vehicles, they are described as:
- A base model Chrysler 300 either 2011 or 2012 model year. The car is white with no sunroof, standard rims, no front licence plate or front licence plate holder and a small black antenna.
- A dark-coloured four-door vehicle, no sun roof, standard rims with a small spoiler lip on the trunk.
- A dark-coloured four-door vehicle with front, side and rear windows all tinted, no sunroof and standard rims.
