On Tuesday night, a chilling crime was reported at a townhouse complex in Guelph. Authorities are currently pursuing two possibly armed suspects in connection with a murder which occurred on the premises. The violent incident took place on Waterloo Avenue near Woodcrest Drive.
The victim, a 37-year-old male, was identified in his residence, coldly shot in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. The local law enforcement officers were alerted around 10:10 p.m. following reports of gunshots reverberating through the complex.
Upon further investigation, officers came upon the brutal scene where the 37-year-old victim lay shot through, marking signs of a probable hail of bullets that met him. He was rushed to the hospital, where, despite desperate efforts by the medical staff, he was officially confirmed dead.
At the centre of the shocking incident was Mary Waller, a resident within the complex who remained witness to the terrifying ordeal. Waller recounts hearing unsettling noises likened to the vicious kicking in of a door, followed by a thunderous bang, overlapping with the terrified screams of a woman echoing through the halls. Waller’s immediate reaction led her to alert the authorities and attempt to console the traumatized woman in the hallway, only to stumble upon a bone-chilling spectacle.
“I observed a guy lying in a pool of blood, it was horrific,” Waller said. “It’s a sight I wish upon no one; it was horrifying beyond measure.”
The Guelph police, who remain in the vicinity, are diligently engaging with residents, collecting any pertinent information or surveillance footage that might assist their investigation. The suspects remain on the loose, described as two Black males, clad in all-dark attire, and potentially armed.
The plea from the police for anyone harbouring any information relating to the incident is urgent, and cooperation is paramount.
Similar ruthless incidents are not a novelty within the community, provoking distress amongst the residents. A member of the community, Mark Villeneuve, confessed about another recent horrifying instance, adding to the deep-seated unease. He witnessed a group forcefully break into a neighbour’s house – an event that left him hiding in fear for thirty minutes until the immediate threat seemed to have passed.
The Guelph police have noted an alarming surge in gun violence within the city. “As a community and a police service, we’re deeply worried about this disturbing trend,” spoke Scott Tracey, the police spokesperson.
