Skip to content

Two more arrests made in 2018 Richmond Hill shooting

Six people now face first-degree murder charges in shooting death of 33-year-old Toronto man
YRP crime scene police car
Supplied photo/York Regional Police

NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
*************************
Investigators with the York Regional Police Homicide Unit have charged two more people in connection with the death of a 33-year-old man who was killed in a 2018 shooting in the City of Richmond Hill.

On Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, at approximately 9:30 p.m., York Regional Police responded to Barnwood Drive, in the area of Bayview Avenue and Stouffville Road, after several calls came in reporting sounds of gunshots. When officers arrived, they located the victim who was transported to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The victim was identified as Soheil Rafipour of the City of Toronto.

On Thursday, June 25, 2020, a fifth suspect was arrested in Peel Region, followed by a sixth person arrested on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

Charged:  

  • Cory Chung, 24 of Kitchener  
  • Jessica Gortych, 20, of Hamilton

Charges:  

  • First Degree Murder

Four others were previously arrested and charged in March and April 2020, in connection with this investigation.

Charged: 

  • Mohamad ElL--Zahawi, 38, City of Toronto  
  • Abdelaziz Ibrahim, 23, City of Hamilton 
  • Thomas Sliwinski, 41, of Brantford  
  • Marena Leachman, 21, of Brantford

Charges:  

  • First Degree Murder

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7865, email the Homicide Unit at [email protected], call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

*************************