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Downtown Toronto driveby ‘wasn’t random’: police

TORONTO – Police say the man killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Toronto Friday was targeted and that he was “known to police.”

Toronto resident Joel Alexander, 28, was shot Friday afternoon in the area of King and Peter streets in the city’s downtown core. Witnesses say as many as 10 shots were fired at the vehicle containing Alexander and a female passenger.

Alexander was rushed to hospital where he died of his injuries. The passenger is “emotionally scarred but physically well,” according to police.

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Detective Terry Browne said Saturday that the shooting “wasn’t random,” and that Alexander was targeted, but refused to speculate on whether the shooting was gang-related.

READ MORE: 3 Toronto shootings leave 2 dead

Alexander also had “difficulties in the past” although no further details were revealed.

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Police have not identified any suspects but say they are seeking a silver, four-door compact car that was spotted leaving the scene.

“We suspect that this vehicle would have been travelling at a high-rate of speed,” Browne said.

Peter Street is now reopened after forensics teams were combing the area for any leads into the shooting.

Alexander leaves behind a five-year-old child.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

 

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