Police seek to identify additional suspect in ‘audacious’ west-end shootout

Toronto police have released an image of an additional suspect they’re trying to identify in connection to what investigators described as a “brazen and audacious” shootout between rivals groups outside of a recording studio on Queen Street West last November.

Police allege the man was seen in possession of a handgun on Nov. 11, 2024, at around 11:30 p.m. in the Queen Street and Gladstone Avenue area, just steps away from where gunshots were exchanged between the two groups minutes earlier.

He’s described as having shoulder length braids and a goatee.

The wild scene began when police say three armed individuals pulled up to a recording studio at 1196 Queen St. W. just before 11:30 p.m. and opened fire on a group of people gathered outside.

The individuals at the recording studio returned fire, forcing the original three shooters to take cover behind an unmarked police cruiser with plainclothes officers inside, who happened to be in the area for a bail compliance check.

As the three attempted to flee the scene, their stolen car was rammed by another unmarked police vehicle, forcing the trio to escape on foot.

The individuals who returned fire from the recording studio attempted to flee the scene by discarding their firearms in garbage bins as they left. Officers took several others inside the recording studio into custody while also recovering “numerous firearms.”

Since launching their investigation into the shootout, dubbed Project Poppie, police have arrested more than a dozen suspects, laying over 100 charges.

Despite the brazen shooting, no one was injured or killed, a fact that TPS Superintendent Paul MacIntyre described last week as “nothing short of a miracle.”

“This incident was an audacious and reckless exchange of gunfire in downtown Toronto,” said MacIntyre.

Aside from the man police are now trying to identify, several other suspects who have been identified remain at large.

They are:

• Mohamud Kheyre, 28, of Brampton
• Caleb Odulate-Stewart, 25, of Toronto
• Olad Olad, 25, of Toronto
• Jahdane Hamblett, 22, of Brampton
• Jahmarley Smith, 23, of Toronto
• Dylano Williams, 25, of Toronto
• Johnary Walker, 19, of Brampton
• Noah Belnavis-Essue, 19, of Mississauga

A male youth, who can’t be named, is also wanted.