28-year-old victim in GTA shooting spree ‘not expected to survive’
Posted September 15, 2022 7:51 am.
Last Updated September 15, 2022 3:51 pm.
Peel and Halton regional police updated their investigation into a tragic shooting rampage carried out by a man with an extensive criminal history, noting 40-year-old Sean Petrie was deemed a high risk to re-offend and commit additional crimes.
Peel police chief Nishan Duraiappah said the suspect, identified as Petrie of no fixed address, was placed on a national flagging system in 2007 after being convicted of multiple counts of robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. His last conviction was in 2015 for a criminal driving offence.
On Wednesday, CityNews obtained court documents indicating Petrie had a history of robbery, drug trafficking and weapon possession. He also had gang ties, according to files from the Parole Board of Canada.
Petrie shot and killed Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong in Mississauga at close range and injured another person in a carjacking for a black Jeep Cherokee. That victim is in stable condition but suffered life-altering injuries, Duraiappah said. Petrie then fled the area to Milton, where he shot three people and killed auto shop owner Shakeel Ashraf.
Halton’s police chief Stephen Tanner said that a 28-year-old international exchange student, who was working at the Milton auto body shop at the time, is on life support and not expected to survive. The third victim’s condition was not made clear.
Peel and Halton regional police identified the suspect in a shooting rampage that spanned the GTA as 40-year-old Sean Petrie of no fixed address. Photo: CityNews video archive.
Petrie was shot and killed following an interaction with police in Hamilton. Duraiappah said the 40-year-old was estranged from his family and believed Petrie was living out of his car at the time of the shootings.
A motive was not made clear, but police said that it’s believed Petrie “was looking for a police officer” and targeted Const. Hong to disarm him. Peel regional police say the gunman was at the Tim Hortons where Const. Hong was killed a little over two hours before the shooting.
A government spokesperson tells CityNews the funeral for Const. Hong will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21. More details about the service will be provided in the coming days.
CityNews confirmed through sources that Petrie was an employee at the auto body shop in Milton. There are unconfirmed reports that Ashraf fired Petrie in the morning before the shooting rampage.
Ashraf was remembered as a doting father, a caring community member and a talented cricket player Wednesday as loved ones and strangers gathered to mourn him at his funeral.
Const. Hong’s daughter pens touching tribute
The family of Const. Hong issued a public statement calling the fallen officer a magnetic personality with a big heart. Hong’s daughter then shared an emotional and touching written tribute to her father on social media.
She will not be identified to protect her and her family’s privacy.
“Dad, I don’t even know where to begin. There are so many things I wish I could share with you right now. You held our family together. You taught me how to drive, built my pc with me, taught me how to fish, took me to get ice cream every time we ran errands, and were my biggest fan,” she wrote.
“You came to every sports game — even woke up early and took a 3-hour train to catch my last basketball game of the tournament. At school, everyone saw you in the bleachers at every game. Every time I see an animal outside or on the street, I want to point it out to you. I want to stop the car on some random street and pspsps the neighbourhood cat. I miss everything we shared.”
Constable Andrew Hong at Waterfront Marathon. Toronto police.
His daughter’s written tribute elaborated on Const. Hong as a son, father and husband.
“I miss everything we shared,” she said.
“I miss the endless pictures and memes of cats, squirrels, and bunnies in our message chats, I miss the random pictures you send me on duty, I miss messing up my baking recipes and you eating them anyway, I miss asking you for tech support, I miss calling you at night to ask when you’ll be home, I miss hearing you come up the stairs and knocking on my door, I miss making fun of your hair, I miss my driving instructor, I miss my role model, I miss you.”
RELATED: Suspect in GTA shooting rampage had long criminal history, court docs show
She concluded the heartfelt message by calling her dad a hero.
“I know you’ll still be with me. You’ll see me turn 18, graduate, and go to university because I know it’s what you would’ve wanted,” her caption reads.
“We are all so proud to have known you. I am so grateful for everything you’ve done and so proud to call you Dad. You were truly a hero to all of us and will always be remembered that way. I’m doing my best to stay strong like you. I’ll make you so proud.”
Toronto police confirmed today that a book of condolences would be available to the public to sign at Traffic Services on Hanna Avenue between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. starting Thursday to Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Those interested in signing can also visit Toronto police headquarters at College Street on Thursday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., this weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 19 to Tuesday, Sept. 20, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Public members must go through a security checkpoint to enter headquarters and sign the book.
