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Police say Jamahl Darling's killing on Monday was 'targeted'

Police say a man who was killed in a shooting early Monday morning was "targeted."

Jamahl Darling, 27, of Toronto was stopped at a red light on Finch Avenue West at Highway 27, at around 4:40 a.m. when his car was shot at several times from another vehicle, according to police. Both vehicles were travelling eastbound on Finch.

"The victim was struck multiple times, with gunshot wounds," Det. Andy Singh told reporters at a news conference later in the day.

Singh said the suspect vehicle is a dark-coloured SUV, last seen heading east on Finch.

He said investigators are looking for "more than one suspect."

Toronto police tell CBC News Darling had a history of violent, criminal behaviour.

A person with the same name, and approximately the same age, has appeared in news stories going back to 2009. It is not known if those incidents involved the same man who was killed on Monday. According to several media reports, those incidents were:

- A November 2009 arrest in Toronto on charges including possession of a prohibited firearm, assaulting a peace officer and possession of cocaine.

- Two charges, including a weapons charge, in September 2011 connected to a stabbing at Joyceville Institution near Kingston.

- A conviction in August 2012 for possessing a weapon and vandalism.

A female friend was in the car with Darling, and driving, at the time of the shooting.

Officials say she tried to drive him to a hospital but mistakenly went to the shuttered Humber River Hospital. That facility is now an urgent care centre, but was not open at the time.

Emergency Medical Services were called there at 5:30 a.m.

Paramedics then rushed Darling to the new Humber River Hospital on Wilson Avenue, where he was pronounced dead.

The woman sustained minor injuries and was released from hospital, Singh said.

The Homicide Squad is continuing to interview witnesses and are urging the public to contact them if they have any information about the shooting or the suspect vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400.

The killing is Toronto's 48th homicide of the year.