NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Homicide Unit have arrested a 20-year-old man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for first degree murder and a second man for aiding him in evading police in connection with a fatal shooting in the City of Vaughan.
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, Illia Ayo, 20, of no fixed address, was arrested while in a stolen vehicle in the area of Jane Street and Finch Avenue in the City of Toronto. Police determined that a second occupant in the vehicle assisted Ayo to avoid him being apprehended by police.
Ayo and Abdinasir Aden, 20, of Toronto, have been charged with a combined 23 criminal offences.
Ayo was charged with first degree murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition contrary to prohibition order, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession for the purpose of trafficking along with several weapons-related charges.
Aden was charged with accessory after the fact to murder as well as possession of a firearm and ammunition contrary to prohibition order, fail to comply with probation order (in relation to previous weapons offences), possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession for the purpose of trafficking and additional weapons-related charges.
On March 9, 2023, at 3:45 a.m., York Regional Police responded to calls for a shooting in the area of Dufferin Street and Summeridge Drive. Officers arrived and found a male victim with gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a trauma centre but was pronounced deceased a short time later.
Through the investigation, two additional victims with gunshot wounds were found by police in the City of Toronto, a 20-year-old male with serious injuries and a 21-year-old female with minor injuries. Both victims were treated at hospital and released.
A post mortem examination was held on March 10, 2023 and the deceased was identified as Alexander Mills-Smith, 24, of Toronto. The cause of death was determined to be from gunshot wounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7865, or email the Homicide Unit at here, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online.
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