Police identify additional suspect in Leslieville shooting that killed Toronto mother with stray bullet

Police have identified an additional suspect in the murder of a Toronto mother of two who was struck by a stray bullet in Leslieville last summer.

In a news conference at Toronto police headquarters Wednesday morning, homicide Det. Henri Marsman said a teenage suspect is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in the fatal shooting of Karolina Huebner-Makurat.

Investigators say the 44-year-old was walking in the area of Queen Street and Carlaw Avenue around 12:30 p.m. on July 7 when she was struck by a bullet and killed. The incident happened near a consumption site at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) following a physical altercation between three men.

Ahmed Ali, 19, of Toronto, is being sought for manslaughter and robbery with a firearm. He is described as being six feet tall, approximately 130 lbs with a thin build and long dark hair worn in braids. Photos of the suspect have been released.

Investigators say he may have fled the country and believe he could be in Somalia.

“At the time, he wasn’t a suspect; he wasn’t on our radar,” said Marsman when asked why Ali wasn’t identified earlier in the investigation. “I’m hoping that he either sees this and makes arrangements to surrender or his family talks him into surrendering.”

“If he possibly travels to a country that does have an extradition treaty (with Canada) then we will cross that bridge when we get to it,” adding that Toronto police are working with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Marsman said Ali was previously known to police. Investigators believe he and the other two facing charges related to the shooting were involved in the drug trade, and the altercation prior to the shooting was the result of that.

Less than a week after the shooting, Damian Hudson, a 32-year-old Toronto resident, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Several weeks later, police said 20-year-old Ahmed Mustafa Ibrahim of Toronto was charged with manslaughter, robbery, and failure to comply with probation.

“Our theory is Mr. Ibrahim and Mr. Ali were together and attacked Mr. Hudson,” said Marsman. “There was an exchange of gunfire.”

Marsman said Toronto police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for Ali’s arrest and are working with partners at Interpol, the international police organization. 

“I don’t believe we have an extradition treaty with Somalia. So, I’m hoping that either he sees this and makes arrangements to surrender, or his family talks him into surrendering,” Marsman said. 

A third person, a 23-year-old woman from Pickering, is also facing charges that include accessory after the fact to an indictable offence and obstruction of justice. She was identified as a staff member from SRCHC.