Man, 55, shot near Kitchener plaza

KITCHENER — A 55-year-old Mississauga man was seriously injured in a shooting in Kitchener Wednesday night.

Waterloo Regional Police said they were called to the area of King Street East and Deer Ridge Drive for a shooting in the plaza area at about 9:45 p.m. There, officers found the man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. He remains in stable condition.

A black Mercedes car was seen fleeing the area, eastbound toward Highway 401 right after the shooting.

Police are describing the suspect as a tall white man.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin said this week that in 2019/2020 there has been an escalation of gun violence with 25 shootings in the region.

Wednesday night’s gunshots comes on the heels of a shooting at a house party in downtown Kitchener early Sunday. Shots were fired outside a house at Cedar Street and Charles Street East after a fight broke out between two people. Partygoers were seen fleeing from the area as shots were fired, police said.

One man was injured and is no longer in hospital.

Police say there will be an increased police presence at King Street and Deer Ridge Drive while investigators continue to canvass the area.

Detectives are trying to determine whether the shooting was random or targeted.

Police remind residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or individuals.

Anyone with information on Wednesday’s shooting can call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.