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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6965436.1721136025!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING NEWS Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.
Read Biden's full text announcing the end to his reelection campaign
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump. He announced his decision in a letter posted on social media. Read the full text.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
Here are the signs you're ready to downsize your home
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many Canadians are looking to find ways to save money, such as downsizing their home. But one Ottawa broker says there are several signs to consider before making the big decision.
A 12-year-old girl is accused of smothering her younger cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone.
Trudeau and family head to British Columbia for vacation in unnamed location
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1.
Even if your kids roll their eyes, keep making jokes, research says
Researchers surveyed about 300 people about their experiences being raised with or without humour and their views on their childhood, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One.
Hazmat response to north London, Ont. apartment complex
Circumstances around a deceased individual in an apartment raise concerns for first responders.
How to protect yourself from West Nile virus
It's been a hot, humid and wet summer so far in Ottawa, making it the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and elevating the risk of West Nile virus.