Leafs’ Marner issues statement after Etobicoke carjacking: ‘It was a scary situation to be in’

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner has publicly spoken out for the first time after he was the victim of a carjacking at gunpoint in Etobicoke.

Officers responded to a call around 7:45 p.m. on Monday after reports a man was robbed of his black Range Rover in a movie theatre parking lot in the area of The Queensway and Islington Avenue.

A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Marner and his friend were robbed of their Land Rover at gunpoint outside a movie theatre by three suspects, two of which were armed with handguns.

Police told CityNews the carjackers threw Marner’s cellphone out of the vehicle and fled south in the SUV onto the Gardiner Expressway. Marner was not physically harmed in the incident.

“To all the fans, my friends and teammates, and the entire Maple Leafs organization — thank you for all your positive messages over the last few days. The overwhelming support I’ve felt from the Toronto community has been unbelievable,” Marner said in a statement.

“I’d also like to thank the Toronto Police Services for all their hard work in the ongoing investigation. It was a scary situation to be in, but we’re safe and doing well. Thank you all — your support has meant the world to us.”

The Maple Leafs released a statement on Tuesday confirming that Marner was a carjacking victim. Toronto police don’t believe the thieves were targeting the NHL star and just wanted the luxury vehicle. The Range Rover was last seen on Highway 401 near Yonge Street.

On Tuesday, Maple Leafs players cleaned out their lockers and spoke to the media. The team did not make Marner available to the press, but several teammates commented on the incident.

“Scary stuff,” said Leafs veteran forward Jason Spezza. “That’s life, that’s not hockey, that’s scary. I’m glad to see that he’s okay.”

Police: Marner carjacking was “crime of opportunity”

Toronto police Insp. Rich Harris told reporters on Tuesday that Marner and his friend complied with the demands made of them and the suspects in the case made off with the vehicle.

“Evidence suggests this was a crime of opportunity,” he said.

Harris said his unit has investigated 60 carjackings so far this year, while last year it investigated 59 for all of 2021.

On Tuesday, Toronto police said officers were made aware of a carjacking in North York, where two cars allegedly pulled up and a suspect produced a handgun.

Investigators said the suspects fled in a Lexus IS 250. No one was injured.