Peel Murders: The Tragic List

It has been coming for a long time, the creeping in of big city violence in bedroom communities surrounding Toronto. But no one expected the explosion of events that have rocked Brampton and Mississauga in Peel Region this year. As council hears an explanation from the Chief of Police, here’s a look back at this terrible trail of blood.

Murder #1, January 24th

Police are called to a Hurontario St. address after what authorities call a night of heavy drinking involving two men. An altercation leaves one of them dead and the other facing charges. Forty-five-year-old Wladyslaw Bafia is discovered suffering fatal trauma. Roman Paszkowski is detained at the scene.

Murder #2, January 26th

It’s a Saturday night when cops are called to an address on Hermitage Road in Mississauga. They find a man suffering from stab wounds. Norman Anderson, 41, is rushed to hospital but succumbs to his injuries. An acquaintance, 38-year-old Thomas Belisle, whom police contend was involved in some previous confrontations with the victim, is charged with second degree murder.

Murder #3, January 30th

A call to St. Leonard’s House on Queen Street East in Brampton reveals the body of a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Constantine Alevizos is sent to hospital but doctors there are unable to save him.

Murder #4, Feb. 22nd

When firefighters arrive at 177 Dundas St. West in Mississauga, they find a body in an apartment high rise. But after the flames are put out, it becomes clear the victim, 40-year-old Randall Hill, didn’t succumb to the smoke. His death is determined to be a homicide, with the killer trying to cover his tracks by setting the place alight. A 35-year-old named Jason Vandenburg is arrested and accused two days later.

Murder #5, Feb. 18th

Andre Alexander Harrisingh is just 26 years old when he walks out of the Trilogy Night Club at 83 Kennedy Road South in Brampton and is shot. He later dies in hospital. A car is seen speeding from the scene.

Murder #6, Feb. 24th

Another Saturday night of violence begins when police are called to Peter Robertson Blvd. and Torbram Road in Brampton. That’s where officers find two men who have been stabbed. One survives but the other, 20-year-old Daniel Grandison, dies of his wounds. Twenty-one-year-old Mark McKintosh is facing second degree murder charges.

Murder #7, March 15th

A man is found shot to death at Brandon Gate Drive and Rockhill Road. Winston Watson dies in hospital. He is just 47. Cops are looking for a motive and a car seen fleeing the scene.

Murder #8, April 5th

It’s 2am when cops find the body of 19-year-old Luis Estrada-Lemmon at 6235 Kennedy Road in Mississauga. He has been suffering from trauma to his body. Two men are arrested. One is charged with first degree murder, the other with being an accessory after the fact.

Murder #9, April 7th

It’s just two days later when detectives head to a rooming house on Shallford Road in Malton. A fight between two men results in one suffering fatal injuries. Keith Shortridge is 43. Cops arrest 44-year-old Romeo Kanhai a day later. He’s charged with second degree murder.

Murder #10 & 11, April 30th

A crime that shocked the city. A man and his wife are brutally stabbed to death in a parking lot at a Red Maple Drive strip mall. A suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Dwayne Palmer, attempts to cut his own throat but survives. Rahimullah Shahghasy is killed when he tries to come to the aid of his wife, Nazifa. They leave behind a heartbroken 21-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter – and no insurance, leaving the young adults to fend for themselves.

Murder #12, June 23rd

After a relatively long stretch with no fatal violence, police are dealing with the stabbing of a 19-year-old man. Tamar Seale is found in the stairwell at 6 Sir Lou Drive in Brampton. He suffers a stab wound to the chest and is pronounced dead at the scene. Cops round up another 19-year-old named Naipaul Basdoram. He’s charged with second degree murder.

Murder #13, June 30th

It’s the day before Canada Day, but there’s no holiday for homicide cops. They’re called to a home on Woodsend Run in Brampton after reports of shots being fired. They discover 31-year-old Glenford Asan Reid in critical condition. Attempts to save him prove futile and he’s pronounced dead at the scene. A second man is wounded but recovers. To make this tragedy worse, police discover that a young child was grazed by the bullets and narrowly escaped death. Despite many people being at the house party, there are no suspects.

Murder #14, June 30th

Just ten minutes before the nation’s birthday arrives, the celebration is tempered with the discovery of 28-year-old Orrin Marlon Earle in an apartment on Darcel Avenue in Malton. He’s been shot to death. Junior Mark Anthony Bennett, a 24-year-old, is being sought for murder.

Murder #15, July 15th

It’s 6:45am and cops are on the scene of an apartment building at 3045 Queen Frederica Drive in Mississauga, where a 53-year-old man is found suffering from signs of trauma. A 23-year-old named Brady Maher is charged with murder. Cops say both men had been involved in an altercation the previous night.
 
Murder #16, July 23rd

The long hot summer of trouble continues with the disappearance of 31-year-old Karina Neff, who leaves her home at 10pm on July 21st and never comes back. To her family’s horror, she’s found dead two days later in a wooded area of Windy Hollow Park, the victim of strangulation. Mississauga resident Jason Osborne, 22, is charged with first degree murder.

Murder #17, August 9th

A new month but the same tragedies. The victim this time is just 16 years old. Cops don’t know why Brampton resident Alex Masih was targeted and shot to death. He’s found bleeding on Collins Crescent and dies in hospital. Exactly a month later, police arrest 20-year-old Tristan Francis for second degree murder. The next day, a 26-year-old named Alvin Boyce is rounded up and faces the same charge.  

Murder #18, August 16th

Twenty-two-year-old Farhan Ali Omar is stabbed in a park at 1290 Rathburn Road West in Mississauga after an argument with another man. He dies hours later in hospital. A suspect, 20-year-old Tristan Landriault of Brampton, is arrested near his home without incident and faces murder charges.

Murder #19, August 22nd

A bloody month continues with another shocking crime. Evan Popoola is found dead in the sports field near St. Jude Separate School at 175 Nahani Way. He’s been shot to death. A youth is arrested several days later after cops get special permission to release his name and photograph.

Murder #20, Sept. 17th

Cops hunt for a suspect after 23-year-old Paramprit Dhinsa is discovered shot at Reindeer Road and Morning Star Drive. He later dies in hospital. A 17-year-old is arrested three days later.

 Murder #21, Oct. 11th

A nightmare Thanksgiving long weekend for police begins Saturday night at 11:30pm, with shots fired at a house party near Pickfair Drive and Benavon Road in Mississauga. Three victims are found with wounds and one, 29-year-old Hardupinder Gill, dies. A suspect flees the scene on foot and is believed to have stolen a Honda nearby, which is set on fire. He remains at large.

Murder #22, Oct. 12th

Just an hour after the previous shooting, sirens scream to another house party and another shooting at Rosewater Court in Mississauga. Two victims are at this one – the first without vital signs. Brandon Paltooram’s life ends at 19 after he’s pronounced dead at the scene. The second man is sent to hospital in critical condition.

Murder #23, Oct. 12th

It happens again, this time at the Sugar Island Bar at 6090 Dixie Road in Mississauga. It’s 3:45am when shots ring out. When cops arrive they find the body of 23-year-old Kamaul Kapp. They’re still trying to determine who killed him.

Murder #24, Oct. 14th

The most recent murder also involves the youngest victim. Rajiv Dharamdial has just said goodbye to some friends at his school and taken a commonly used shortcut across a field. He’s confronted by someone as he crosses and is stabbed. Despite calling for help on his cell phone, the student succumbs to his wounds. He’s just 14. Cops have no suspects and are seeking information on the crime.

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