Police believe the suspect in the death of a Toronto mother has fled Canada

TORONTO – The man accused of killing a Toronto woman who was shot by a stray bullet during a daytime walk is believed to be on the run, police said Wednesday, seven months after the shooting that sparked an outpouring of grief and grief. open.

Karolina Huebner-Makurath was walking on the afternoon of July 7, 2023 in the Leslieville neighborhood of southeast Toronto when she was shot during a fight between three nearby drug dealers.

The altercation happened near a controlled consumption site, and residents in the area said they had been concerned about safety in the neighborhood for months.

Police said Wednesday they would not comment further on concerns surrounding the site and that they would focus on the homicide investigation.

Police said they identified 19-year-old Ahmed Ali as the last of three suspects believed to be involved in the shooting and are facing charges of first degree murder and robbery.

Ali is believed to have fled to Somalia shortly after the shooting, said Det. Sergeant. Henri Marsman.

“He wasn't a suspect at the time. He wasn't on our radar. As we were able to identify him and do background checks, we realized he left shortly after the murder,” Marsman said. press conference.

Police previously arrested Damian Hudson, 32, on charges of second-degree murder and Ahmed Mustafa Ibrahim, 20, on charges of first degree murder and robbery.

Ibrahim and Ali worked together to attack Hudson, and then Ali and Hudson opened fire on each other, Marsman said.

Police also charged a 23-year-old woman who worked at a nearby controlled substance abuse facility with obstruction of justice after the incident.

None of the charges were proven in court.

Toronto police have issued an arrest warrant for Ali in Canada and are working with partners at the international police organization Interpol, Marsman said.

“I don't believe we have an extradition agreement with Somalia. So I hope he sees this and makes an agreement to surrender or his family calls for him to surrender,” Marsman said.

“If he goes to a country that has an extradition treaty, then (when) we cross that bridge.”

After the shooting, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones launched a “critical incident review” at the province's 17 consumer and treatment services sites.

The Ministry of Health has also appointed a supervisor to the Leslieville site, giving them full authority to make decisions about site operations and safety improvements that may result from a separate, third-party review of the site, which is being completed by Unity Health Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 7, 2024.

Jordan Omstead, Canadian Press