Adu Boakye, a 39-year-old father of four from Ghana, has been identified by the police as the man killed in one of two random shootings in northwest Toronto recently.
In a police update, Det. Phillip Campbell said Adu Boakye and another 16-year-old boy were “shot indiscriminately” less than 24 hours apart while waiting for a bus in Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue recently.
While talking to reporters, Det. Phillip Campbell said: “Our investigation thus far has revealed there is no relationship between Mr Boakye and the individual, or individuals, who shot him.
“And like the victim shot the day before, Mr. Boakye was innocently going about his business [when he was shot].”
According to the police, the 16-year-old victim was on his way to a volleyball game at the time of the shooting and he remains in the hospital in critical, but stable condition with potentially life-threatening injuries.
In both cases, the victims were waiting outside of a bus stop in the area when an unknown suspect walked up to them and fired shots at them.
Investigators have revealed that they believe the shootings are connected. Cambell added that a suspected stolen vehicle used by the suspect(s) in both incidents was later found abandoned in Hamilton.
Investigators have asked anyone who may have seen a black Acura RDX in the area before or after the shootings to contact them.
Campbell stated that the back-to-back shootings have “hallmarks of gang activity,” but could not talk about any potential motive behind the attacks. Campbell stated that “nothing” in their investigation so far points to any gang affiliation for both victims.
Supt. Andy Singh of 31 Division stated that both victims were “completely and utterly innocent,” which according to him is a “big part of what has caused alarm in this community.”
Police erected a command post in the North York neighbourhood the day after the second shooting, and Chief Myron Demkiw urged the community to be vigilant in reporting any suspicious activity.
Nobody has been arrested at this point but police released surveillance images of a suspect recently in a bid to identify him. The suspect is described by police as a Black man, between 18 and 25 years old, with a thin build. The last time he was seen, he wore a black coat, white hoodie, black pants, black shoes, a black face covering and possibly a white surgical mask.
Campbell said he is very sure that the suspect will be identified at last but tips from the community will be a major part of the investigation’s success.
He said: “I don’t think it will be difficult.”
