A 32-year-old Peterborough man is dead and a suspect still at large following what police believe was an isolated incident early Friday morning (April 26) at the Sunshine Homes housing complex at 572 Crystal Drive.
At around 5 a.m. on Friday, police responded to a report of gunshots being fired at the complex, which is located just north of Highway 7/115 and west of Ashburnham Drive and is owned and operated by the Peterborough Housing Corporation.
After arriving at the scene, officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. First aid was provided at the scene by emergency medical services, and the injured man was then transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre where he pronounced dead.
Police began a search for the suspect in the shooting, who they learned had fled the home where the shooting occurred. The canine unit was brought in to track the suspect, which led officers to the north side of Highway 7/115, and police also deployed a drone to help officers on the ground locate the suspect. These efforts were unsuccessful.
Officers then conducted a grid search of the area, at which point they also issued a notice to two nearby schools — St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School and Otonabee Valley Public School — of the ongoing investigation, as police believed the suspect was armed.
Hold and secures were initiated at both schools and were later lifted at around 10:40 a.m. after police completed the grid search.
VIDEO: Homicide – April 26 2024
Although the grid search was also unsuccessful, police say they know the identity of the suspect and are currently searching known locations in the city.
“While we do believe this is an isolated incident between parties that are known to each other, we also recognize at this time the suspect is still at large and is in possession of a firearm,” said Detective Sergeant Josh McGrath in a media conference at the scene on Friday afternoon.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 x555 or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
