Glenford Asan Reid was pronounced dead at the scene of the Monday night shooting where more than 100 partygoers had gathered at the south Brampton home. A 37-year-old Toronto man was also injured by gunfire that rang out at the Woodsend Run house, but sustained wounds considered non-life threatening and is expected to make a full recovery.
Despite a packed house of revelers, police have had "minimal cooperation" from potential witnesses, said Peel Regional Police Insp. Norm English. Many of the partygoers fled before police arrived.
Investigators have so far been unable to establish a motive or gather any suspect information, English said.
Police were called to the home just west of McLaughlin Road and Ray Lawson Boulevard at about 11:20 p.m. for reports of gunfire at a house party. They arrived to find Reid suffering from gunshot wounds, according police reports.
Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Police would not comment any further on the wounds Reid sustained, but an autopsy was scheduled to take place yesterday.
The second, unnamed victim, was transported to hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The two victims did not know each other, according to police. English noted there was "no real control of who attended" the event.
Reid, who police said was also nicknamed Prento, did not live at the house where bits and pieces of the Canada Day eve party remained strewn across the front yard Tuesday. In the open garage, a table had been flipped upside down, its festive red tablecloth left blowing in the breeze.
"Every year they have a party on Canada Day," said a woman who gave her name as Mayank and said she had lived in the neighbourhood for six years.
"It's the first time there was a gun involved," said her son, Rashmi, 13.
"I couldn't sleep the whole night," said Mayank. "I'm so scared, my kids play here and they go to the park."
Residents said the neighbourhood of peach and beige brick houses is safe and peaceful. It is estimated at least 100 people were at the party, many of them listening to music and barbecuing in the front yard.
"It was pretty packed," said Rupali Yakhmi, 20.
Neighbours did not know the residents by name, and said they tended to keep to themselves. Some said they had a reputation for loud music blaring out of their car stereo, and loud arguments, often taking place late at night.
A neighbour who did not want to give her name described an incident at the same house the night before. She said the female resident returned home with her boyfriend to find her former boyfriend waiting for her, which led to an altercation.
The neighbour said she listened as the woman called 911.
"She goes, 'What is it going to take, somebody to get killed, for you guys to show up?'"
Around 3:30 a.m., the neighbour said, three police cars arrived at the scene. English confirmed police were at the residence before in response to a domestic call. However, the incident "is totally irrelevant and unrelated" to the shooting, he said.
The Monday night party was a mix of adults and children, some very young, the neighbour said. After the shots rang out— people estimate hearing anywhere from two to six— partygoers ran to their cars.
"I have never seen women run in high heels like that before," the neighbour said.
Another neighbour said she saw a man in a hooded black jacket run into someone's backyard with a cellphone in his hand.
"He just kind of disappeared, he tried to hide himself or something like that," she said. "I wasn't sure if he was the gunman or just somebody who was just at the party."
She said she had heard police found a gun in that very yard Tuesday morning. Police would not confirm if a gun had been found.
Investigators have spoken to members of the family living at the residence, but still have no suspects at this time.
Officers are canvassing the neighbourhood and compiling a list of guests for questioning.
Homicide detectives are not releasing any more personal details about Reid or his life.
Police have made no connection to a nearby Mississauga shooting, but are not ruling it out, English added.
The Mississauga shooting left 28-year-old Orrin Marlon Earle, of Mississauga dead and occurred at a Malton apartment building just 30 minutes later and 18 km from the Brampton shooting.
The two deaths are Peel region's 13th and 14th homicides of the year.
The homicide bureau is asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 905-453-2121, ext. 3205 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
- With files from Torstar
News Service