Pellet gun attack on elderly woman in Scarborough was 'random,' police say
UPDATE: On Friday, Toronto police announced the arrest of a 27-year-old man from Toronto in connection with the pellet gun attack. Police laid five charges, including assault with a weapon, disguising with intent and breaching a conditional sentence order.
Toronto police are asking for help identifying a person who they say shot a 76-year-old woman several times in the face with a pellet gun during a "random" attack in Scarborough.
The victim was on her daily walk on Hupfield Trail in East Malvern late Wednesday morning when the alleged assault happened, Const. Laurie McCann said during a brief news conference Thursday.
According to McCann, the assailant approached the woman on foot from behind and as they passed, turned and shot her with the pellet gun before running away.
The victim had minor injuries to her face and hands. Shortly after the attack, she turned up outside Mary Shadd Public School asking for help. She was taken to hospital for treatment and is now at her home resting, McCann said.
"It does not appear at this time that it was targeted," McCann told reporters. "It does appear to be random."
Police are investigating the attack as an aggravated assault.
The suspect was described as wearing a three quarter-length grey jacket, black pants, and dark clothing covering their face and head. Investigators released two images of the person taken from security camera video.
"We don't have much of a description at this time, the video footage isn't the clearest. But it's what we have now," McCann said, adding that police are appealing for any other video that could aid their search.
"It's why we are stressing to the public to please check your cameras and see if you have anything. This person may frequent the area and you might have caught them on your camera without even knowing."
Anyone with video or information is asked to contact Toronto police or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.
