Police Search For Leads In West End Homicide
Posted July 3, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A weekend shooting in the west end that left a man dead is now forcing a local business owner to consider stepping away from his livelihood.
A man named Harris is the owner of Whispers Sports Bar where the deadly incident took place – a spot he insists he’d never had trouble “like this” before.
“I go to all-nighters to keep it safe,” he told CityNews in an exclusive interview.
“That’s what I was trying to avoid.”
Two people were hit with bullets, one fatally wounded early Sunday morning outside Harris’ establishment. Things allegedly got out of control after an altercation between two men and the woman taking cash at the after-hours event led to weapons being drawn and fired over a cover charge refund.
“I guess I gave them their money back too slow and then they grabbed my bag with my hand and then they pulled me outside,” the woman, who asked not to be identified, recalls.
“That’s when one of the guys pulled out a gun.”
Harris’ bar has eight infrared security cameras both inside and out, a high-tech system which cost the proprietor $7,000.
The computerized video’s been turned over to police, who say even thought the equipment didn’t deter shooters this time, it will be a big help in making the responsible parties take responsibility.
Still, not even justice may be enough to keep Harris from selling his bar. He says the fact that someone died in front of his business is difficult to take to say the least.
“It bothers me a lot. it bothers me a whole lot,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to please call Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS.
