A Somali National Killed In Canada
A man fatally shot in Etobicoke early Monday died in front of his mother outside the home where he lived, his father says.
A man fatally shot in Etobicoke early Monday died in front of his mother outside the home where he lived, his father says.
Farhan Jama, 28, was gunned down by a group of shooters on Orpington Crescent, near John Garland Boulevard and Kipling Avenue, in Toronto’s Jamestown neighbourhood. Several people called 911 about the sound of gunshots in the townhouse complex at about 12:40 a.m.
Family members confirmed his identity to CBC Toronto on Monday. Toronto homicide detectives have not yet released his name.
Jama Ismail, his father, told reporters that his wife heard the gunfire coming from outside and came to the front screen door. Then she saw Jama after he had been shot.
“She had seen her son dying here in front of the house. She came down,” he said.
JAMA WAS POLITE, EDUCATED, HUMBLE, KIND, FATHER SAYS
An emotional Ismail said his son, who had five sisters and a brother, was a good person who made a difference to his family.
“He was a good boy. Polite. Educated. He was humble. He was helping his family. Very kind,” Ismail said.
ccording to his father, Jama was a graduate of Western University and was coming home from work when he was shot.
The father said he wants the killers brought to justice.
Toronto police say several people called about the shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Jama suffering from gunshot wounds. Toronto paramedics tried to save his life but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jama is Toronto’s 56th homicide victim of the year. Police said he lived with a large family in the neighbourhood in which he was killed.
SHOOTERS GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, OPENED FIRE, FLED
Speaking to reporters, Homicide Det. Rob North said police are looking for several shooters who got out of a vehicle, killed Jama, then got back into the vehicle and fled. Police are also looking for the vehicle, described as a newer model, dark-coloured sedan.
North said the shooting victim was making his way to an address and was minding his own business when he was “confronted by a group of individuals who began to fire multiple shots at him.”
There was a brief verbal interaction between the victim and shooters before the shooting, he added.
“The whole altercation was over very quickly,” North said.
OFFICERS FOUND 20 SHELL CASINGS AT SCENE
Investigators found 20 shell casings at the scene. For that reason, police believe the shooting was somehow targeted, North said.
But North said the victim was not known to police in any way. “There’s no gang affiliation from our victim,” he said.
Officers searched on Monday for witnesses and surveillance, cellphone and dashboard camera video that may have captured the shooting.
North said police have obtained “adequate” images of the vehicle but no licence plate number has been released.
Bullets were also fired into two homes in the area. One bullet went through a window and another went through a door frame and into the residence.
“They were firing very sort of indiscriminately,” North said.
FAMILY, FRIENDS REELING FROM LOSS
Fatima Mohamed, his aunt, said Jama was a nice person.
“Farhan was a very interesting person. He was very kind, very humble, very good to his mother and sisters. Very helping. He loved life very much,” Mohamed said.
“Education was one of his strengths. Every time I saw him, he was always smiling. We are going to miss him so dearly.”
On Monday afternoon, a group of women from the neighbourhood gathered near the scene to express their sadness at the killing and frustration that violence in the area is continuing. Many said it was “not fair” that Jama was killed.
Leyla Mohamed, a family friend, said the whole community is shocked.
“You come shoot innocent person. Why?” she asked.
“We’re shocked because the boy was a good boy. He was a nice boy, good family. He just finished university. That’s not fair,” she said.
“We need our safety.”
Marayam Hussien, another family friend, said the shooting has hit the neighbourhood hard.
“He grew up with us. It was so sad to see him last night lying over there,” she said.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and have not released detailed descriptions of suspects.
