A man is dead and suspects are at large after a homicide at a Vaughan residence in the early hours of Sunday that left neighbours shaken.Ìý
After receiving a home invasion call from inside the Kleinburg residence, officers responded to a man suffering from trauma to his body nearÌý around 1 a.m., a police spokesperson told the Star.ÌýThe victim was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said in a .Ìý
The suspects fled the area, police said, adding that there are at least three suspectsÌýlast seen wearing dark clothing and face coverings.ÌýInvestigators believe there is “no immediate threat to public safety.”
On Sunday evening, police identified the victim as Abdul Aleem Farooqi, 46, of Vaughan.ÌýThe incident is being treated as a targeted incident, police said in a media release.Ìý
Yellow police tape cordoned off the driveway of the residence where two vehicles were parked on Sunday morning. Five York police cruisers lined the street near the home. Writing in what appeared to be white chalk was seen scribbled on the brick of the home’s front facade, saying, “It is 2025 right now, June 28, I am 11 years old.”Ìý
A couple of neighbours said they didn’t know much about the residents of the home, but one noted there are at least two elementary-age kids who live there with their parents.
Benjamin Cabral was awakened by the sounds of a helicopter in the early hours of Sunday. The neighbourhood resident who has lived in Kleinburg for nine years peered out his window and saw flashing lights. He later found out from police that aÌýhomicide had occurred.
“It’s really a shock for our families,” CabralÌýsaid, “We have a lot of young couples here with kids. I don’t know how they feel because we’re not even talking. We are looking to each other and we don’t know what to say to each other.”Ìý
Another neighbour, who declined to give her name out of concerns for her safety, said she was arriving home Saturday night after 1 a.m. when she saw her streetÌýfilled with police cars and ambulances and noticed a helicopter shining light on the home.Ìý
“I was afraid and freaking out because my mom was home alone sleeping,” the woman said, adding they were up all night out of fear.
Paramedics went inside the home with a stretcher but left without transporting anyone, the neighbour told the Star. She saw a woman from the residence crying and “fall to the ground” outside after police interacted with her, the woman added. She recalled hearing a teenage boy repeat, “My dad.”Ìý
Later that night, the neighbour saw what she believes to be extended family arrive at the scene, forming a group of about 20 people outside the home, she added.Ìý
“Honestly, they’re a good family. During Christmastime and Easter, they bring us chocolate and gifts,” the woman said, adding that she believes two teenage boys and two younger girls, including a toddler, live in the home with their parents. “They have a lot of kids. I’m not sure they’re all their kids, but the kids usually just play outside.”
Another neighbour whoÌýdeclined to give his name over safety concerns said he heard banging noises Saturday night from the home and screaming from females. He says he didn’t know the family personally, but that his kids would play outside with the young girls from that house.
“This is definitely scary. It’s exactly the same type of family as I have,” the neighbour said. “For everyone in this neighbourhood, this is definitely scary and unfortunate. ... It’s really bad,” he said.Ìý
The home had signs indicating a family with kids lived there: a basketball net, a pack of chalk on the front porch and a toddler toy placed next to the front steps.Ìý
The exterior front door had visible markings near the door handle-set and a black and white cloth that appeared to be a towel laid on the roof between the second and first floors.Ìý
Edilberto Victoria drove byÌýAndreeta Drive around 11 p.m. Saturday on his way to pick up his son, Mark, from a concert. The street was quiet, and Victoria didn’t notice anything suspicious. It was only at 6 a.m. the next morning when he heard about the murder and saw a line of cop cars parked across the home.Ìý
“It was pretty shocking. This never really happens... I think this is the first murder that ever happened in this neighborhood,” Mark said, adding that he was planning to hang out with friends later in the day, but he doesn’t feel safe after the incident.Ìý
Police said they are still investigating the means of death and motive.
“We are still working to determine how they fled,” a police spokesperson said, adding that they may have fled in a vehicle, but investigators do not have a suspect vehicle description.
The scene of the homicide on Andreeta Drive was cordoned off with police tape and police cruisers lined the residential street on Sunday morning.
Asma Sahebzada/É«É«À² Star“Vaughan is a safe community and I will do everything in my power to ensure it stays that way — but we can’t do it alone,” Vaughan Mayor StevenÌýDel Duca said in a statement on .Ìý
He called for “immediate and urgent” action on bail reform from the federal government in the wake of Sunday’s homicide.ÌýAs police have not yet released suspect information, it is unknown whether the suspects were previously known to police or out on bail at the time of the homicide.
The mayor offered his condolences to the family affected by the incident and echoed the investigators’ plea for information and security camera footage to be turned over to police.
People are urged to avoid the area amid a heavy police presence at the scene, police said, adding that investigators will be canvassing the area for video.
Anyone with information or security camera footage from the area is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423 x 7865.
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