A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead in a stairwell at an east-end apartment building in the early hours of Tuesday.
Emergency crews were called to a building on Eastdale Avenue, located in the area of Danforth Avenue and Dawes Road, for a report of unknown trouble.
“Just before 5 a.m. this morning, Toronto police’s communication centre received a 911 call to 75 Eastdale Avenue in East York,” Det. Stephen Henkel told reporters at the scene.
“A resident had located a male in his 20s deceased in the lobby of a stairwell here.”
Police said that when officers arrived at the scene, they found a man lying in a stairwell, bleeding. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has since been identified as 21-year-old Warren Pearson, of Toronto.
Police also said they located shell casings inside the building.
Investigators said they are in the process of reviewing surveillance camera footage in the area and are knocking on residents’ doors for additional information.
In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, police said they believe Pearson met with someone in the building prior to the shooting.
Witnesses told CTV News Toronto they heard gunshots at around 1 a.m., but did not think there were any victims and did not call police at the time.
"Just three booms go off. It sounded like it came from outside the building," said Mckenzie Belyea, who lives in a unit beside the stairwell. "I was just sitting there in shock. Like my heart just dropped... We turned all the lights off and locked our bedroom doors. We were scared."
No information regarding any possible suspects wanted in connection with the investigation has been released by officials thus far.
“We are currently appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the lobby of 75 Eastdale Avenue between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. this morning or who may have heard any commotion or possible sounds of gunshots to please contact us at the Toronto police homicide squad or Crime Stoppers,” Henkel said.
No weapon has been recovered, police said.
