Man shot dead in Ontario city, police appealing for witnesses

A man was shot dead in Vaughan earlier this week and investigators are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

York Regional Police said that on Wednesday at 2:36 p.m., officers went to a commercial premises in the Jane Street and Langstaff Road area for a report of an injured person.

A victim was found inside one of the units “with obvious signs of trauma to his body” and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

On Thursday, the Office of the Chief Coroner identified the victim as 41-year-old Toronto resident Deuvane Donald Francis, with his cause of death determined to be gunshot wounds.

Police said that a white four-door 2016 Honda Civic was seen fleeing the scene the day before officers found Francis — on Tuesday at around 12:22 p.m.

The vehicle has since been recovered by investigators.

“This is being treated as a targeted incident,” police said.

“Investigators are appealing to any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police and to anyone who may have security video from the area, to please come forward.”