Man shot dead in downtown Kitchener in targeted hit
Police chase white, four-door Mercedes but it escapes; officer in pursuit crashes
KITCHENER — A “targeted shooting” left a man lying dead on a picnic table in a downtown Kitchener parking lot and sent police on a highway pursuit of a suspect vehicle Thursday morning.
The shooting happened on the corner of Pandora Avenue South and King Street East around 11:15 a.m. in a parking lot next to the Salvation Army’s New Directions rehabilitation centre and halfway house.
“We got a call, several calls regarding some gunshots at the area,” said Deputy Chief Kevin Chalk of Waterloo Regional Police.
“Officers responded and located a male with obvious injuries . ... They attended to the man that was down and injured and
he subsequently was pronounced as deceased.”
Chalk said the attack was targeted and multiple shots were fired. Police have not released the victim’s identity.
Witnesses reported seeing two people in dark clothing flee the area in a white, fourdoor Mercedes car, which was spotted by an officer shortly after travelling east on Highway 401 near Townline Road.
The officer pursued the vehicle and called for backup. The vehicle continued east, exited at Highway 6 South briefly and then made a U-turn back onto the 401 eastbound, said Chalk.
During the high-speed pursuit, the police SUV collided with a pickup truck on Highway 6. The officer and the truck driver received minor injuries.
Ontario Provincial Police were called to assist with the chase and Halton Regional Police, Peel Regional Police and Toronto Police were all notified of the pursuit.
The Mercedes was last seen near Erin Mills Parkway in Mississauga. It’s not known if the car was stolen, but police said the licence plates on the vehicle did not belong to it.
Travis Johnson, who lives a few blocks away from where the shooting occurred, said he was at home Thursday morning when he heard what sounded like gunshots.“It just sounded like extremely loud clapping noises,” he said.
He waited until police arrived before he left his home and walked toward the scene. He said he saw a body on a picnic table covered in a yellow tarp “with hands sticking out at the side.”
“It is kind of frightening to have it right around the corner from your house,” he said of the shooting.
Cameron Heights Collegiate, located nearby on Charles Street, was placed under a hold and secure which was lifted around 1 p.m.
Chalk said since the suspects have left the region he doesn’t believe there is any risk to the community.
Police say there will be an increased police presence in the area as the major crime unit, general detectives and forensic officers investigate.
Salvation Army New Directions, located in a building next to the scene, declined to comment on the incident.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, or who has any other information, to call them at 519-5709777, ext. 8666, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477.