A quiet Monday afternoon in Vaughan shattered as gunfire erupted in a bustling plaza, leaving a 65-year-old man fighting for his life. Police responded to a flurry of 911 calls reporting shots fired near the intersection of Winges and Rowntree Dairy Roads, a normally peaceful commercial area.
Officers arrived to a harrowing scene: a man slumped in front of a business, riddled with gunshot wounds. Emergency services rushed the victim to hospital, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. His name was Sergio Lopes, a resident of Richmond Hill.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when, while officers were still at the shooting scene, a separate call came in about a vehicle ablaze several kilometers away on Kipling Avenue. The burning vehicle was a black SUV – and it matched the description of the car seen fleeing the plaza moments after the shooting.
Investigators quickly determined the charred remains of the SUV were directly linked to the earlier violence. The vehicle was unoccupied when it caught fire, thankfully preventing any further injuries. This discovery solidified the belief that the shooting was a deliberate act.
Police are now classifying the murder as a targeted incident, suggesting the victim was specifically chosen. The motive remains unclear, and the search for those responsible is intensifying. Every lead, every piece of evidence, is being meticulously examined.
Authorities are urgently appealing to the public for assistance. Anyone with information, including security or dashcam footage from the area around the plaza or Kipling Avenue, is asked to come forward. Even the smallest detail could prove crucial in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers. Investigators are determined to uncover the truth and provide answers to the victim’s family and the community shaken by this senseless act of violence.
