York Regional Police have published security video of a man suspected of targeting a Vaughan business twice in April. the individual is accused of attempting arson on April 18 and returning on April 22 to fire a weapon and start a small fire.
The April 18 attempt at Islington Avenue and Kellam Street
The first incident occurred on the morning of April 18 in the area of Islington Avenue and Kellam Street in Vaughan. According to York Regional Police, an employee discovered the smell of gasoline upon arriving at work around 9:45 a.m., which prompted the initial call to authorities.. While officers confirmed that no fire had actually ignited and no injuries occurred , the security footage tells a more aggressive story.
The video released by York Regional Police shows a lone suspect arriving at the business around 6:30 a.m. carrying a red jerrycan. The footage captures the man dousing the front porch with an accelerant and throwing objects at the main doors. Before fleeing the scene, the suspect is seen hurling large rocks at the windows of the establishment.
Seven gunshots and a second attack on April 22
The situation escalated significantly just four days later. On April 22, the same Vaughan business was targeted again at approximately 5:30 a.m. As reported by York Regional Police, security footage shows the suspect returning to the main doors equipped with both a jerrycan and a duffel bag.
In a violent shift from the first attempt, the suspect appeared to discharge a firearm seven times into the front entrance. After the shooting, the individual entered the building with the jerrycan. While a small fire did break out during this second encounter, it eventually extinguished itself, and no injuries were reported. When police arrived at 5:40 a.m., they found the front glass door smashed and significant gunfire damage to the property.
The black minivan and the purple hoodie
Investigators believe the same individual is responsible for both attacks, noting that a black minivan with tinted windows was spotted at the scene during both incidents. York Regional Police describe the suspect as a Black man approximately 40 years old, though his attire changed between the two dates.
During the April 18 arson attempt, the suspect wore a black hoodie, dark-coloured construction boots, and a black fitted baseball cap featuring a gold sticker. By the April 22 shooting, the suspect had switched to a purple hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and a black mask to conceal his identity.
The missing motive behind the Vaughan business attacks
The precision of these attacks—targeting the same business twice within a few days—suggests a targeted vendetta rather than random opportunistic crime. However, the current police report does not provide a motive, nor does it specify the nature of the business located at Islington Avenue and Kellam Street.
Several critical details remain unverified. It is unclear what was contained in the duffel bag the suspect carried during the second attack, or if any items were stolen from the business after the suspect entered the building. Furthermore, the report only provides the police perspective; there has been no public statement from the business owner regarding a possible connection to the suspect.
Comments 0