Double shooting is the third in same Mississauga plaza area
Published March 21, 2024 at 12:55 pm
An overnight shooting at a Mississauga plaza that left one man dead and another seriously injured is the third such incident to take place in the same area in recent years.
Emergency crews responded to the shooting at the plaza on the north side of The Queensway East, between Dixie Road and Stanfield Road, around 2:40 a.m. today (March 21), Peel Regional Police media spokesperson Const. Nikhil Chakravarthy told reporters at a press conference late Wednesday morning.
Police found two adult male victims in the area. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other man was transported to hospital where his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, Chakravarthy said.
The exact location of the shooting is not being released, but Chakravarthy said one victim was found outside the plaza.
There was also no further information released on the age or identity of the two men.
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A large area of the plaza was cordoned off with police tape this morning and homicide is investigating.
“The victims were found a short distance apart from each other, which is a contributing factor as to why the scene is as large as it is,” Chakravarthy said. “It is going to be part of the investigation as to why they weren’t found in the same spot.”
Police don’t believe the two people shot each other but instead think there was a suspect or suspects who shot the victims and left the scene. They do not have suspect information at this time.
It is also not known why the two people were at the plaza, and police believe there were other people in the area at the time of the shooting.
Police believe the incident is isolated and there does not appear to be any further danger to the public.
The plaza is home to several businesses and services including dental and medical offices, a gym and a restaurant.
The investigation will include a canvas of these businesses, looking at surveillance video and speaking to anyone who might have been in the area at the time, Chakravarthy said.
This is the third shooting in recent years at or near the plaza.
Two men were seriously injured in a shooting in a parking lot on The Queensway East, between Stanfield and Dixie roads, on July 14, 2019, according to news reports. Both were sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Four people were shot at the same plaza and sent to hospital with serious injuries on Canada Day last year.
Business owners and staff at the plaza expressed concern over the three separate incidents. But one person said they believe the incidents are targeted and not a danger to their business.
Chakravarthy said it was too early to say if this shooting was connected to one of the businesses in the plaza.
This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information should contact Peel Police at 905-453-2121. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
Photos: Karen Longwell
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