Police say shootings at west-end housing complex had 'gang overtones'

Police tape blocks the scene of a shooting at 2063 Islington Ave., north of Dixon Road, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.

Police believe the death of a 22-year-old man at a west-end housing complex earlier this week had "gang overtones" and may have been a retaliation shooting for another incident at the same address.

Malcolm Marfo suffered multiple gunshot wounds Tuesday night. He was rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police believe his murder may have been a revenge killing for another shooting that happened hours earlier.

Police were called to 2063 Islington Ave. at approximately 3:15 p.m. where 21-year-old Ahmed Siyad was found with gunshot wounds in the stairwell of the building. He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injures, and released later that day. Det. Sgt. Mike Patterson said the victim has so far refused to co-operate with police in the investigation.

Police are now hoping more witnesses will come forward.

"We are going through an abundance of video and trying to determine the number of people in the area at the time," Patterson told reporters during a news conference Friday afternoon. "There is some co-operation, but in these circumstances, we'll take as many as we can get."

Police said both Marfo and Siyad were known to police, but didn't say if or how they knew each other. Patterson adds that Marfo's criminal record dates back several years and was for a minor offence.

"He appears to be a loved son and brother and an upstanding community member," Patterson said.

He adds there's no indication that Marfo was involved in any gang activity. He says the "gang overtones" in the shootings are linked to "an umbrella of gang activity in regards to this investigation."

Police don't believe Siyad is a suspect in Marfo's death as he was in the hospital at the time.

"We don't know how they are connected, but there are connections in the place (of the shooting) and with some of the people involved in the investigation," he said.

This is not the first time Siyad's family has made headlines.

His brother, Liban Siyad, was arrested and charged in 2013 in connection with Project Traveller, a police probe into weapons and drug trafficking in the area. Police wiretaps during that investigation allegedly captured conversations about then-Toronto mayor Rob Ford and the infamous crack video.

Ford's former driver, Sandro Lisi, has been charged with extortion in relation to that video, with police alleging he threatened Siyad and another man over the clip. That matter is currently before courts.

On Tuesday, the Ward 2 councillor showed up at the crime scene, but police say there is no connection between the shooting and the case currently before the courts.

"There is nothing to connect Sandro Lisi or the former mayor to this case," Patterson said.