Police seek details about car in homicide case
Getaway vehicle seen going through a red light after shooting on Feb. 6
Ottawa police major crime detectives are looking for more information on a rental getaway car that sped through a red light after fleeing the scene of Ottawa’s only homicide to date this year.
Police released images Wednesday of a black Dodge Charger believed to have been used by three people they believe were involved in the Feb. 6 killing of 27-year-old Crips gang member Yusuf Ibrahim.
Ibrahim was gunned down around 9:30 a.m. in the living room of Unit 32 at a housing co-op at 181 Forestglade Cres. The convicted bank robber was shot in the back and legs. A witness travelling on Hunt Club Road that morning saw the Dodge with three people inside running a red light.
Police maintain that more people would have seen that vehicle at that hour, either parked on Forestglade Crescent or speeding away.
According to a used vehicle abstract for the licence plate BRSS 291, the vehicle, listed as a Ford not a Dodge, is registered to the Etobicoke head office of WTH Car Rental ULC, the business name for Avis Car Rental. The car is believed to have been rented in Ottawa, though police would not disclose when the vehicle was returned to the rental company, nor will they say who rented it or if that person has been interviewed.
There are eight Ottawa locations listed on the Avis website — locations at Industrial Avenue and at the Ottawa International Airport are the two closest to the crime scene. The pictures released by police appear to have been taken in the parking lot of the Airport Parkway location.
Investigators also believe that Ibrahim was at ByWard Market strip club Barefax the night before he was killed. Police can’t confirm where else the slain man might have been, but are asking anyone who saw him that night or can provide additional details about his movements in the hours before he was killed to come forward to police.
At some point after leaving the Market, Ibrahim ended up at the Forestglade townhouse where others also began gathering. A small amount of crack cocaine was later found at the crime scene.
Police have not yet located the gun believed to have been used in the shooting.
The appeal Wednesday marks the second time in a week that police have asked the public for help in the gang-related slaying. On March 18, police released taxi surveillance images of three men who took two different taxis to 181 Forestglade Cres. around 3:30 a.m., just hours before Ibrahim was killed.
The men paid cash for their trips. Police now say the men are “important witnesses.” They have yet to be identified.
Anyone with information is asked to call the major crime unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493