The city’s 45th homicide victim of 2009 has been identified as Richard Durant.
The 26-year-old was shot just before midnight Oct. 30 and died in hospital of his wounds less than a day later, a post-mortem revealed Monday.
Police initially responded to reports of gunshots at Tom’s Sports Bar and Café at 1146 Davenport Road around 11:45pm Friday and upon arrival located two men suffering from wounds to the body.
Durant was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries which he succumbed to in the early morning hours.
The second victim, also 26, was hit in the leg with a stray bullet and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, friends and loved ones spent Monday trying to control their grief over the loss of man known in the neighbourhood as a peacemaker.
“He was a beautiful person and he was so caring,” Durant’s common-law wife, Vinnie Wain, said through tears Monday.
“He was so overprotective of everybody and he wanted to be the big brother of the group.”
It’s alleged that a minor argument earlier in the evening precipitated the gunplay. Witnesses say the assailant returned to the bar and asked Durant to step outside to talk.
“As soon as Richie got outside, no hesitation, he opened fire,” said the victim’s best friend, Steve.
Police think with witness cooperation they should be able to make a quick arrest.
"There's no doubt in my mind that with the 20 patrons that were there at the time of the shooting, more than half know exactly what happened and saw the whole thing," said Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).