The man was working at an auto body shop in Milton when he was shot. The store’s owner, Shakeel Ashraf, 38, was killed, while Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong, 48, was fatally shot about half an hour earlier in Mississauga. Two other victims were also shot during the afternoon and suffered various injuries. Police have identified Sean Petrie, 40, as the suspect in the shooting. Petrie himself was later killed during an encounter with police at a Hamilton cemetery. Tanner spoke to the media at a press conference alongside Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. Officials released more details about the series of shootings that unfolded over several hours Monday afternoon and appealed to the public for information about Petrie. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah has appealed to the public for information about suspect Sean Petrie as investigators try to piece together a motive for the shooting spree. (Cole Burston/CBC) Petrie had a lengthy criminal history that included convictions for assault, armed robbery and other violent offenses, Duraiappa said. In 2007 he was placed on the national register as a person with a high likelihood of re-offending in relation to an incident two years earlier. He was estranged from his family, Duraiappah added, and worked briefly at the car shop owned by Ashraf. Petrie allegedly used a handgun in the shooting, which is now in the possession of the Ontario police dog, the Special Investigations Unit, as part of the investigation into his fatal interaction with police at a Hamilton cemetery. Investigators are still trying to piece together a clear motive for the shootings, though they believe Hong – the first of the victims to be shot – was targeted because he was a uniformed police officer. Investigators said they currently believe Const. Andrew Hong was targeted for being a uniformed police officer. Hong was fatally shot at close range inside a Mississauga Tim Hortons. (Toronto Police Brochure) Hong was at a Tim Hortons location on Argentia Street in Mississauga at the time. He was in Peel for joint training and was on his lunch break. He had gone to get coffee for his colleagues when he was ambushed by Petrie and shot at close range around 2.15pm, Duraiappah said. Police said they tried to disarm Hong before shooting him. Hong was pronounced dead at the scene. According to investigators, Petrie had been at the coffee shop for about two hours and 15 minutes earlier. He arrived in a red Toyota Corolla with number plate CXMM 077 and parked in an adjacent lot before entering. The car was registered to Petrie, police said. Investigators believe he was living in the vehicle. Petrie then stole another vehicle and shot the driver. That victim is in stable condition at the hospital but suffered life-changing injuries, Duraiappah said. Petrie then drove to the Milton car shop, where at around 2.50pm he shot Ashraf and two employees – the international student and a 43-year-old man who has since been discharged from hospital. Shakeel Ashraf, 38, was killed at his auto repair shop in Milton. Two employees were also shot, including a 28-year-old international student who is not expected to survive his injuries. (Submitted by Junaid Butt) Petrie then went to Hamilton, although police said they are not sure why. Around 4:30 p.m., officers from Halton and Hamilton met him at a cemetery and Petrie was killed. In her comments to the media, Crombie emphasized that Tim Hortons and auto shop employees, as well as civilians who witnessed the shooting, were deeply traumatized and said support services are available to them.
The officer’s funeral will take place on Wednesday
Toronto police say the funeral for Hong will be held on September 21 at noon. The funeral is not open to the public, but those wishing to pay their respects are invited to watch the procession as it travels from Kane-Jarrett Funeral Home on Yonge Street to the Toronto Convention Centre. Meanwhile, condolence books are available to allow the public to pay their respects to Hong. Police say members of the public who want to offer their condolences to Hong’s family and colleagues can visit headquarters and the traffic services building or share their thoughts on its website. The service provided the following locations and times for the public: Traffic Services, 9 Hanna Avenue: September 15 to September 20 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. TPS Headquarters, 40 College St.:
September 15 and September 16: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m September 17 and September 18: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m September 19 and September 20: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m
Online at https://www.tps.ca/andrew-hong/ Police say they will announce details of Hong’s funeral later Thursday. Hong was a 22-year veteran of the Toronto police, having spent the past 19 years in traffic services, where he worked with a highly specialized motorcycle unit that provides security escorts for dignitaries such as prime ministers and presidents.
