Police on hunt for sniper
TORONTO MAN GUNNED DOWN LAST FALL BY SKILLED SHOOTER
Toronto Police are hunting a sniper who murdered a man with one shot from a “high powered” rifle — at night, in windy conditions, while the target was moving and from more than 180 metres away.
“I believe this person has some considerable skill or training,” said Det. Sgt. Tam Bui.
Clinton Yow Foo of Toronto was killed on Oct. 1 last year. The 37- year- old was shot once just before midnight with a lever action Browning BLR short magnum rifle, which the police have recovered. The weapon was also outfitted with a high- definition riflescope and a unique bipod mounted on the front.
The homicide squad believes the sniper’s nest was more than 180 metres south of where Foo was killed, in an industrial area.
During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Bui noted that the unique rifle would likely have been noticed by someone, as it isn’t popular among hunters, who typically don’t mount bipods on their guns.
The rifle is a key piece of evidence and was found at a considerable distance from the shooting, though within the crime scene area.
“We were surprised to find it,” Bui said.
The homicide squad would not release details about whether the weapon had any serial numbers on it, but did say that it had a “strong connection” to Montreal.
“We believe the sniper may have a connection to Quebec and Montreal,” said Bui, without giving more details.
The homicide has a national focus: not only is the gun linked to Quebec, but police also believe Foo was in St. John’s, N. L., in the summer before his murder. Bui said Foo told family he was travelling outside the country in July, though investigators believe he did not leave Canada.
The investigation may also have international clues. Police say Foo was shot while he was in the middle of a call to someone outside the country.
“For a lack of a better descrip- tion, this person is an eyewitness to this murder. We would like to speak to them,” Hui said.
Police have run into issues with other individuals linked to the case. The person who discovered Foo’s body a few hours after the shooting has “disappeared” and police are urging them to come forward.
Hui said the murder victim had organized crime connections in the Greater Toronto Area and was the subject of a sweeping gun and gang investigation by Durham Regional Police in 2009.
The probe, dubbed ‘ Project Isis,’ was a three- year investigation that took $ 3 million worth of cocaine, heroin, meth and ecstasy off the streets, according to the Toronto Sun. Though Foo was convicted of gun and drug charges in 2011 and sentenced to 12 years in prison, the conviction was overturned on appeal in 2012 and Yoo was set free.