Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Police told reporters that the suspect or suspects were in a vehicle when they arrived at the mansion, located near Park Lane Circle and Post Road. It is not clear if Drake was home when the shots rang out shortly after 2 a.m. A security guard standing outside the gates of the residence was wounded and taken to hospital for treatment.
The shooting comes amid an escalating rap beef with Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar. Drake and Lamar released a number of diss tracks aimed at each other over the weekend, which included unsubstantiated allegations and personal insults.
Police have said it is too early to say whether the shooting is linked to that feud.
“The problem that the police will face now is it is a celebrity of Drake’s stature, who has millions of followers online, and there is this sort of backdrop of this feud,” said CTV crime expert Mark Mendelson, who previously worked as a Toronto homicide detective.
“Did that have any motivation behind this? The timing of all of this is interesting but in terms of a police investigation, it is a shooting. And evidence is evidence and the evidence is going to have to dictate the course of this investigation.”
He said security camera footage will be vital.
“There is a lot of video cameras out there. Within 150 yards of that house, there are probably 100 security cameras and the police want to make sure they’ve got the right video, the right vehicle,” Mendelson said.
Media wait for a press conference as Toronto Police investigate a crime scene outside the mansion of Canadian rap mogul Drake in Toronto's Bridle Path neighbourhood, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Paramedics said a security guard working outside the home was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries in an overnight shooting. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Police will also have access to a key witness account as the victim is expected to survive, Mendelson noted.
“They will wait until he is in a better condition to speak to police. What was said? Did he recognize this individual? Did he recognize this car? Had the car driven past a couple of times before,” Mendelson said. “All of these questions need to be answered.”
Investigators will also need to pore through social media accounts to determine if any threats had been made to the rapper in recent weeks.
“They are going to have to interview the people who are closest to Drake, who manage his social media and other business activities that he’s involved in. Did they have any idea that this was coming?” Mendelson asked.
“You can’t escape the possibility that this is just somebody who is random, who does not like Drake but likes Kendrick Lamar and felt that people were being disrespected and decided to take this into their own hands… It could be something as simple as that.”
Police have said the investigation is in the early stages and a motive has not yet been identified.
With files from Phil Tsekouras
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.