Vaughan Plaza Shooting Investigated as Targeted Homicide
York Regional Police are actively investigating a deadly shooting that occurred in a Vaughan commercial plaza on Monday afternoon, which authorities have confirmed was a targeted incident. The victim, identified as 65-year-old Sergio Lopes of Richmond Hill, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds after being rushed to a local hospital.
Chronology of the Violent Incident
According to police reports, officers responded to multiple calls reporting gunfire at approximately 1 p.m. on Monday in the area of Winges Road and Rowntree Dairy Road, located southwest of the intersection of Weston Road and Highway 7. Upon arrival at the commercial plaza, first responders discovered Lopes lying in front of a business with severe gunshot injuries.
Constable Kevin Nebrija provided details in an official statement released Wednesday, confirming that despite immediate medical attention, the victim died from his wounds at the hospital. The investigation quickly turned to locating the suspect vehicle described by witnesses as a black sports utility vehicle that fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
Burned Vehicle Connection Established
While police were still processing the shooting scene, another emergency call came in regarding a vehicle fire on Kipling Avenue, north of Woodbridge Avenue. Responding firefighters discovered a black SUV fully engulfed in flames, which matched the exact description of the suspect vehicle from the earlier homicide.
Nebrija confirmed that investigators have definitively linked the burned vehicle to the shooting, noting that the SUV was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no additional injuries were reported from that location. The deliberate destruction of the vehicle through arson suggests a calculated attempt to eliminate forensic evidence.
Police Seek Public Assistance
York Regional Police have classified this incident as a targeted homicide and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in security footage from businesses or residential properties in both the shooting and vehicle fire locations, as well as any eyewitness accounts that might provide crucial details about the suspect or suspects.
The police have established dedicated contact channels for tips, including the Homicide Unit at 1-866-876-5423, extension 7865, and the anonymous Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). As of the latest update, no arrests have been made in connection with this violent crime.
Community Impact and Investigation Status
This targeted shooting has raised concerns within the Vaughan community about public safety in commercial areas. The brazen nature of the daytime attack in a populated plaza, followed by the deliberate burning of the getaway vehicle, indicates a level of planning that has investigators examining potential motives ranging from personal disputes to organized crime connections.
York Regional Police continue to dedicate significant resources to this investigation, with forensic teams examining both crime scenes for evidence that might have survived the vehicle fire. The identification of Sergio Lopes as the victim has allowed investigators to begin tracing his recent activities and associations in their pursuit of leads.
