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Eaton Centre shooting not gang-related, say cops

The brazen Eaton Centre shooting that left one man dead and seven others injured Saturday night was not gang-related, say Toronto Police, even though the suspected gunman and two of the victims are believed to be members of the same gang.

At a 2 pm press conference called at police headquarters Monday afternoon to discuss the early morning surrender of Christopher Husbands, the suspect in the deadly attack, lead investigator Det.-Sgt. Brian Borg told reporters he believes the motive of the crime was personal.

“The evidence suggests it’s an isolated incident. So even though they have gang associations, there’s no evidence that suggests this was a targeted event or that it has anything to do with street gangs,” Borg said.

“There obviously are other aspects of the investigation that I’m not going to speak about, and those lead me to believe this is not a gang-related homicide.”

Borg would not elaborate further on what motivated the attack, but said he believes the encounter in the mall’s food court between Husbands and the murder victim, Ahmed Hassan, was purely a matter of “happenstance.”

Borg declined to comment on reports the Eaton Centre incident was related to a shooting earlier the same day in Alexandra Park.

Husbands, who was due to attend a court hearing at Old City Hall at 2:30 pm Monday afternoon, was already facing criminal charges and was supposed to be under house arrest at the time of the attack that sent hundreds of shoppers scrambling for safety. (Edit: Husbands was remanded to custody without bail on Monday, with a hearing scheduled for mid August)

Borg said reports that Husbands was also involved in the 2005 Boxing Day shooting that left 15-year-old Jane Creba dead were untrue.

Husbands is charged with one count of first degree murder and six counts of attempted murder, one for each bystander who was hit by stray bullets. An eighth victim, who is pregnant, was not shot, but was stomped on by terrified mall patrons as they fled towards the exits. She and her unborn child are said to be in good condition.

A man with gang ties who is believed to have been the target of the shooting along with Hassan remains in hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.

A 13-year-old boy from Port Hope who was shot in the head is in serious but stable condition and has been improving.

Borg stressed that even though an arrest has been made, anyone with information about the crime is still urged to come forward.

“By no means has this investigation into the tragic events of last Saturday concluded,” he said.

Police can be reached directly or information can be given to Crimestoppers at 416-222-TIPS. A website has also been set up to allow anyone who may have cellphone footage of the shooting to upload it anonymously.

In unprepared remarks delivered after the briefing by police, Mayor Rob Ford advised Torontonians to go about their daily lives despite the weekend violence.

“It’s been a terrible couple of days. But, like I said before, this is the safest city in the world,” Ford said. “I encourage people to come to the city, to go out, stay in at hotels, eat at our restaurants, go to our museums, and catch a game at the Rogers Centre.”

Police said that anyone who may have left belongings at the Eaton Centre Saturday night can retrieve them starting tomorrow at 51 Division on Parliament St.

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