Man killed in Scarborough shooting identified by family
A man shot and killed in an underground parking garage in Scarborough has been identified by his family.
Police were called to the area of Sheppard Avenue East and Birchmount Road just before 5:30 p.m. Friday for reports of a shooting.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
When officers arrived, they located a man suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. Despite life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Saturday, the victim was identified as Gars-Ara Kourjakian by his friends and family to CTV News Toronto.
Rahim Ladhajuma, a friend of the family, said Kourjakian’s daughter -- who turned five years old on Saturday -- was with her father at the time of the shooting and that he was taking off her winter boots before he was shot.
"That guy loved his family and daughter and he was one of the greatest neighbours you can have," Ladhajuma told CTV News Toronto.
Gars-Ara Kourjakian is seen in this undated image. (Supplied)
Kourjakian was an interior designer and had been saving to buy his family a house, Ladhajuma explained.
Ladhajuma said that in the last two weeks, a number of cars have been broken into inside the underground parkade below their apartment building.
Police confirmed to CTV News Toronto that they are investigating a handful of incidents of mischief reported in the garage over the last month.
“This garage stays open sometimes far too long. And, you know, people may blame the management, the building, you can't point too many fingers but there are little steps to be done," Ladhajuma said.
CTV News Toronto reached out to the building management company for comment but has not yet heard back.
Kourjakian is the city’s 70th homicide victim of the year. He was 34.
Police said Friday that they do not have suspect information at this time.
With files from CTV News Toronto's Allison Hurst
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.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
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.