Man killed in Brampton shooting had long criminal history of stolen cars and human trafficking
Published July 25, 2023 at 10:51 am
A man shot dead in a targeted attack in Brampton on the weekend has been identified as a 30-year-old from Toronto previously charged in stolen vehicle and human trafficking investigations.
Peel Regional Police say 30-year-old Anthony Putzu was shot and killed on Saturday (July 22) at St. Roch Catholic School in Brampton.
Officers were called to the scene around 9:15 p.m. for reports of a shooting and found a 30-year-old male suffering from gunshot wounds. When officers found the victim, later identified by police as Putzu, he had no vital signs and was rushed to a local hospital where he later died.
Peel police have confirmed that Putzu was known to police and was charged in stolen vehicle investigations in Peel. He was also reportedly charged in a human trafficking bust in York region nearly 10 years ago.
Putzu lived in Toronto but had previously lived in Brampton.
In August 2022, Putzu was one of several people charged during Project Memphis – an investigation into stolen vehicles that led police to a province-wide organization with alleged ties to drug trafficking, vehicle thefts and the re-vinning of stolen vehicles based on fraudulent documentation.
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Putzu was also previously charged in 2014 by York Regional Police in a human trafficking investigation involving a 16-year-old girl and a 19-year-old, according to multiple reports.
The killing is being called a targeted incident by police who say investigators are looking for two suspects in the shooting, but no physical descriptions have been released.
Investigators are asking anyone with information on this incident or who may have dash camera video from the area around the time of the shooting is asked to contact Peel Regional Police at 905-453-2121 ext. 3205.
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