A Scarborough teenager is in stable condition in hospital following what police believe is a drug-related shooting in Peterborough on Wednesday evening (September 25).
Police are searching for two or possibly three male suspects in the shooting, but do not yet have descriptions of the suspects.
At around 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, police were called to a residential building at 701 George Street North just south of Parkhill Road West after reports of gunshots. After officers arrived, a male 17-year-old from Scarborough suffering from multiple gunshot wounds emerged from the building.
He was treated on the sidewalk by emergency medical services before being taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre. He was later transported to a Toronto-area hospital where he is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
After arriving at the scene, officers and the canine unit searched the area but did not locate any suspects.
Peterborough Police Chief Stuart Betts and Detective Sergeant Josh McGrath held a media conference at the site of the shooting late Thursday morning, where Betts noted this is the third shooting incident in Peterborough so far this year.
“At this time, we are actively following up on investigative leads,” Betts said. “We’re searching for the suspects involved in this particular case and we’re asking anybody with information with regard to what happened to please forward that to police. If you’re uncomfortable speaking with the police, then please provide that information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.”
Betts added police believe the shooting is related to illicit drugs.
“Although it’s of little comfort I’m sure, we have information to believe that this was yet another targeted incident in our community,” Betts said. “We believe that the illicit drug trade is at the heart of it and, as I’ve said many times, where there are illicit drugs, there is violence soon to follow.”
While the shooting victim is from Scarborough, Betts implied that the suspects in the shooting are also not from the Peterborough area.
“These people came to our community to commit their violence,” he said.
McGrath said the suspects and the victim were known to each other, but the nature of the relationship is not yet clear.
“We believe all the parties involved were involved in the drug subculture in this building,” McGrath said.
In response to questions from reporters, McGrath said police do not yet know what type of firearm was used in the shooting. He also clarified that, while some of initial reports indicate the suspects are from out of town, police have not yet confirmed this.
McGrath also said that the shooting happened on the sidewalk in front of the building, and the wounded victim went inside the building to get help, emerging after police and emergency medical services arrived.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 ext. 555. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at stopcrimehere.ca
