A 'deplorable and cowardly act': Soccer referee gunned down at North York sports complex
New details have emerged about a shooting at a North York indoor soccer and basketball facility over the weekend that left a 49-year-old man dead and wounded two others.
So far police have released few details about the triple shooting at La Liga Sports Complex, not even confirming whether or not it was targeted.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
But in a statement posted online, Futsal Canada said the victim, Edwin Farley Alvarado Quintero, of Woodbridge, was “doing his job and passion as a referee when a fight broke out between some players” and may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
According to the organization, the “dispute escalated to the level where a man armed with a gun fired shots into the venue hitting three men.”
Quintero was struck by gunfire. He died in the hospital a short time later.
Soccer/futsal referee Edwin Farley Alvarado Quintero, 49, of Woodbridge, was fatally shot at North York's La Liga Sports Complex on Sunday, Oct. 9. (GoFundMe photo)
A second victim sustained life-threatening injuries, while the third man’s injuries were deemed serious.
Police have not yet confirmed the account provided by Futsal Canada.
“Everyone at Futsal Canada sends our deepest sympathies to (Quintero’s) family. No one should ever have to go to a game and face violence in any way. We absolutely condemn in the strongest words possible this deplorable and cowardly act,” they wrote in their post.
Quintero has worked as a referee for both soccer and a similar sport called futsal in the past.
People in the soccer and futsal communities have since taken to social media to decry what happened.
A charity futsal tournament is now in the process of being organized in Quintero’s honour by the soccer and Latino communities in conjunction with Toronto police. The fundraiser is set for next weekend in North York.
Police respond to a shooting near Finch Avenue and Alness Street Sunday October 9, 2022. (Corey Baird /CTV News Toronto)
Funds are also being raised online to pay for Quintero’s funeral and help his family.
According to a GoFundMe page, he leaves behind his wife Alejandra Alvarado and two daughters, age 13 and 18.
Toronto police’s homicide squad continues to investigate the fatal shooting.
So far, investigators have canvassed the area and spoken to several witnesses.
Police are still working to determine what may have led to the shooting.
CP24.com did reach out to police for an update on the case but have not yet heard back.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.