‘Execution style’ Yorkdale murder linked to gang: police

Toronto police have confirmed that the shooting at a Toronto mall that left one man dead and another injured over the weekend is connected to gang activity.

Toronto police said the two men who were shot in the parking lot of a busy Toronto mall over the weekend had links to a street gang.

Det. Rob North said Michael Nguyen, 23 and an unidentified 24-year-old were members of the ‘Asian Assassins,’ a violent Toronto gang.

During a press conference on Wednesday, North said the two men were “ambushed” outside Yorkdale Shopping Centre on Saturday evening. He said at least eight shots were fired and there’s no suggestion that the victims returned fire.

The men had gone to the mall to do some shopping and get something to eat, and were believed to be walking toward their car when the shooting began at around 8 p.m.

North said Nguyen began to run from the vehicle before he collapsed and “was shot several more times, execution style.”

Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was injured and has since been released from hospital.

Both men were known to police.

North said there doesn’t appear to have been an argument or other event at the mall that led to the shooting.

“In my opinion, someone must have known they were at Yorkdale mall and were waiting outside in the parking lot and ambushed them,” North said.

Police are looking for at least two gunmen, and are poring over hundreds of hours of footage from security cameras at the mall in an effort to identify suspects.

North did not say if the suspects were linked to a rival gang.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Scott Lightfoot