What we know about the man and motives behind the deadly GTA shooting spree

Investigators revealed more details Thursday about the background and possible motives of the man who went on a deadly shooting spree across parts of the Greater Toronto Hamilton area on Monday, killing three people — including a Toronto police officer — and injuring two others.

Sean Petrie, 40, had an extensive criminal past, but wasn’t currently on bail.

“He was on no current form of release,” confirmed Peel police chief Nishan Duraiappah on Thursday. “He was under no restrictions that prohibited his movement.”

Police revealed on Thursday that Petrie was inside the Tim Hortons on Argentia Road in Mississauga for over two hours on Monday, seemingly waiting for a police officer to enter.

When Const. Andrew Hong walked in to buy coffee for his fellow officers, he was shot at close range and killed.

Hong was in the area for a motorcycle training exercise on that ill-fated day.

“At this point I believe the motive was he (Hong) was a uniformed officer and was deliberately targeted,” said Det. Michael Mavity.

“I believe he was looking for a police officer.”

Police also revealed that Petrie tried to disarm Hong, who died at the scene.

Investigators believe Petrie was living out of his car, a red Corolla (pictured below) that he parked adjacent to the Tim Hortons where Hong was killed.

Peel police say Petrie, who died after a confrontation with police in Hamilton later Monday, had an extensive criminal record and, in 2007, was placed on a national flagging system as someone with a high risk to reoffend. Photo: Peel Regional Police.

After shooting and killing Hong, police say Petrie ran to another parking lot in the area where he shot and carjacked another victim.

That victim remains in hospital in stable condition with what police call “life-altering injuries.”

Security images from the area showed Petrie wearing an orange construction vest. Police still don’t know why he was wearing the vest.

“That’s something we are exploring … to find out why he was wearing that vest,” Mavity said. “We haven’t identified a place of employment.”

Criminal past, estranged from family

While Petrie wasn’t currently on bail, police said he had an “extensive criminal record” with numerous past convictions.

Duraiappah said he was previously convicted for assault, armed robbery, carrying a concealed weapon, careless storage of a firearm, possession of a loaded/prohibited firearm, breach of probation, and failure to comply with recognizance.

He also has numerous property and driving offences, as well as a firearms prohibition, on his lengthy rap sheet.

In March 2007, Duraiappah said Petrie was placed on the national flagging system after being deemed a high risk to reoffend following an offence from 2005.

Court documents obtained by CityNews describe Petrie’s role in the violent robbery of gas station manager in September, 2005.

The manger was walking to the bank to deposit more than $14,000 which he was carrying in backpack, when Petrie attacked him from behind, stealing the money.

R. v. CAMERON – Reasons for Sentence by CityNewsToronto on Scribd

The agreed statement of facts said the victim “was punched three times as he attempted to resist Petrie’s efforts to grab the backpack.”

“Petrie was successful in grabbing the backpack containing the money” and ran with it to a getaway car being driven by another man.

None of the money was ever recovered and Petrie pleaded guilty, ultimately receiving an eight year sentence, minus pre-trial time served for which he was given a two-for-one credit.

His last conviction was in 2015 for a criminal driving offence.

While previous court documents hinted at gang ties, Detective Mavity said, “we have nothing to suggest at this point that he has any gang ties.”

“At this point I have no information regarding that.”

While trying to learn more about the gunman, police reached out to several of his family members who described strained relations.

“We have spoken to three immediate family members and all of them have communicated that they had an estranged relationship with Sean.”

Some hadn’t spoken to him for more than five years, Duraiappah explained.

Previously worked at Milton auto body shop

Police say after the Mississauga shootings, Petrie fled in a stolen vehicle and headed towards an auto body shop on Bronte Street South in Milton where he previously worked.

Once there he shot three people, killing the shop’s owner Shakeel Ashraf, and 28-year-old exchange student, Satwinder Singh, who was working at the shop part time.  A 43-year-old man was also shot and is recovering from a gunshot to the leg.

“We do acknowledge the suspect did work at the auto body shop for a short period of time,” said Halton police chief Stephen Tanner.

Tanner said police have heard “rumours” that Petrie threatened his former employer in the past, but couldn’t confirm anything.

It’s not yet clear why Petrie then headed to Hamilton, where he was shot during an exchange of gunfire with Halton and Hamilton police officers at Hamilton Cemetery. He died at the scene.

Petrie’s death is currently being probed by the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

“We have no reason to believe there’s some interest in Hamilton,” Tanner added. “It may just have been by chance.”