Hamilton man killed near Dufferin and Eglinton in what may be 'random attack'
Toronto police have identified a man killed on Friday night in a parking lot near Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue West.
Police say the man was Leonard Pinnock, 33, of Hamilton. Next of kin have been notified.
Det.-Sgt. Joyce Schertzer told reporters that the shooting appears to be a "random attack."
She said Pinnock was in his vehicle waiting for a friend in the parking lot at a strip mall near Dufferin Street and Bowie Avenue, north of Eglinton Avenue West, when the shooting occurred. Police received a call about the incident at 9:30 p.m.
Schertzer said a police cruiser was in the area and officers responded quickly to the call.
On Friday night, police said they found Pinnock, without vital signs, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, the shooting sent a crowd of people running and screaming through the lot as they tried to escape the gunfire.
Schertzer said police have collected video from the scene, are analyzing that video and are interviewing witnesses. Police are also seeking dash cam video that might have captured the shooting.
Residents in the area, from Dufferin Street west to Caledonia Road, Eglinton Avenue West north to Castlefield Avenue, are urged to search their backyards for "discarded items" or "anything that doesn't belong to them." If anything is found, residents should contact police.
"The investigation is early and we are not ruling out a vehicle involved but I would like the community to tell me what they know or what they saw," she said.
An autopsy is underway.
Schertzer said, according to witness reports, more than one suspect was involved. No description of the suspects was available other than that they were male.
