Victims in Vaughan, Ont., mass shooting include 3 members of condo board, police say

Victims in Vaughan, Ont., mass shooting include 3 members of condo board, police say

Suspected gunman in Ont. condo shooting had history of conflict

Police have identified 73-year-old Francesco Villi as the suspected gunman in the mass shooting at a condo building in Vaughan, Ont., that left five people dead. Neighbours say Villi had a history of erratic behaviour and conflict with the building’s condo board.

A 73-year-old man who fatally shot five people at an upscale condo tower north of Toronto in Vaughan, Ont., used a semi-automatic handgun and victims were found on several different floors of the building, the province’s police watchdog said Monday.

At a news conference Monday afternoon at York Regional Police headquarters in Aurora, Ont., Chief Jim MacSween identified the shooter as Francesco Villi.

Villi was shot and killed on the third floor, MacSween said.

He said the officer who shot Villi is a 24-year-veteran of York Regional Police and “he very likely saved lives by his actions last night.”

Meanwhile, MacSween said police could not yet identify the victims of the shooting. He said three men and two women — all residents in the condo building — were killed, and that three of those people were members of the condo board. A 66-year-old woman was also shot and remained in hospital Monday.

Board members John Di Nino, who is also the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, and Tony Cutrone were not injured. Di Nino’s wife, Doreen, was injured in the shooting but is expected to live.

Di Nino was inside his residence when his wife was shot, according to his spokesperson. He issued a statement saying it’s a “very difficult time for my family” and said he won’t comment further.

Cutrone, who does not live in the building, said the shooting is “unreal” and hard to fathom.

“On the one hand, I’m literally lucky to be alive. On the other hand, I was just communicating with these people 24 hours ago, and now not. It’s hard to hear the words that they were killed,” he said.

“I’m still in shock. I can’t believe that’s the way he decided to go out and I hate that he took people with him.”

WATCH: York police chief gives update on mass shooting at condo building:

Three men, two women killed in Vaughan, Ont. mass shooting: YRP

York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween told reporters Thursday that all five victims of the shooting lived in the condo building. Three of them were on the condominium board. MacSween said the motive for the shooting remains under investigation. The 73-year-old suspect was killed during an interaction with police.

Officers found a ‘horrific scene’

Officers were initially called to the building at 7:20 p.m. ET Sunday in response to a shooting in progress.

The chief said officers arrived at the scene within three minutes and 21 seconds of the initial call.

They arrived to find a “horrific scene” with five victims shot in three separate units, MacSween said, adding that detectives are working diligently to find answers “in this horrible incident.”

“We are truly shocked and sorry that such an incident took place in our region,” he said. “We will do anything we can to support the loved ones and anyone else impacted by this heartbreaking incident.”

“The motive for the shooting remains part of this very complicated and very fluid investigation, which is still ongoing at
this time,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit, which looks into any incident during which someone is killed or badly injured when police are present, said the alleged shooter lived in the building.

SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette told reporters the man was killed during an interaction with police in a hallway and that a gun was recovered. Denette could not say whether the firearm was obtained legally.

According to Denette, the alleged gunman was pronounced dead at the scene around 8 p.m. ET. A post-mortem exam is scheduled for Tuesday.

MacSween said Sunday that it will take some time to determine the motive for the shooting and it wasn’t immediately clear if there was any relation between the suspect and the victims.

It’s still unclear what drove the violence, but MacSween described it as a “horrendous scene.”

Still processing what happened, resident says

Building resident John Santoro said he opened the door of his unit Sunday night to see a pair of officers armed with rifles by the elevators.

“I did hear a commotion in the corridor,” he said, adding that police were going floor to floor as they responded to the shooting. Santoro said the building was soon surrounded by police and emergency vehicles.

“The ambulances started rolling in … I saw body bags coming out, being loaded into ambulances,” he said. “We knew it was something very big.”

Another building resident said he was still processing what happened.

“It’s just shocking to be honest,” said Jordan Bennett, who went out to get food Sunday night and returned to find a heavy police presence at the building. “I feel pretty safe here so I’m pretty shocked to hear something like this happened.”

WATCH | Police chief says it will take time to determine a motive:

Six dead after Vaughan, Ont., shooting, says police chief

York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween says it will ‘take us some time’ to determine the motive for the shootings.

‘My heart goes out to the victims,’ mayor says

As day broke over the condo on Jane Street north of Rutherford Road, about 15 police cars and a large forensic identification truck remained outside the highrise. The main entrance to the building was taped off.

Residents who were evacuated from the condo were able to return to the building early Monday morning.

Speaking outside the building Monday, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca offered condolences to the victims and their families and said flags at city hall would fly at half-mast in their memory. He said the entire community is reeling from the shooting.

“My heart goes out to the victims, their families, to the people that knew them. It’s just unspeakable to imagine that has taken place here in our community,” he said.

Officers were called to the building at 7:20 p.m. ET on Sunday in response to a shooting in progress. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)

Del Duca commended York police and other first responders for their efforts.

“And I want to thank all of our brave first responders for the work that they did yesterday to secure what I know must have been a very difficult situation.”

A ‘terrible attack,’ prime minister says

Speaking with CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his “thoughts go out to all the families, all the residents, people who are extraordinarily shook up, people who’ve lost loved ones in this terrible attack.”

In a statement posted to Twitter, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “shocked and saddened” by the shooting.

“All of Ontario is thinking of the victims of this senseless violence and the family and friends grieving their loss,” he said.

On Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tory called the shooting “horrific.”

“On behalf of all Toronto residents, I extend condolences to our neighbours in the City of Vaughan in the wake of last night’s horrific shootings. We pray that the loved ones of those who have lost their lives are supported through this tragedy,” he said on Twitter.

“We also send a message of gratitude and support to the first responders who arrived at the scene last night and who are continuing to investigate today.”

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