Toronto police officer Andrew Hong and auto shop owner Shakeel Ashraf have been identified as the two people killed in a series of shootings in Mississauga, Ontario.
According to CBC Canada, the shootings began at a Tim Hortons restaurant around 2 p.m. and continued until 6:30 p.m. They took place in three different communities across Toronto.
CTV News reports that Hong, 48, was taking his lunch break at Tim Hortons when he was shot at close range. Police have described the shooting as an ambush attack.
Friends, family and colleagues described Hong as a kind person.
“Andrew was a big boy with a big heart, a huge heart,” Insp. Matt Moyer, who is acting superintendent of Traffic Services, told CTV News.
Hong is survived by his parents, wife and two teenage children. His family has thanked the community for their support.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of support. Andrew was magnetic. He was a man of steel on the outside, with a warm teddy bear personality on the inside. His personality was larger than life,” they said in a statement, according to CTV News.
Ashraf was the second person killed in the shooting spree. He was shot at his auto shop MK Auto Repairs, where Ashraf’s brother says the suspect was briefly an employee.
The 38-year-old was beloved in the community. According to CBC Canada, community members have left flowers outside of the auto shop. Junaid Butt, who played on a cricket team with Ashraf, says the team has been left “heartbroken.”
Ashraf is survived by his father, wife, brother, three sisters and two daughters (ages 10 and 12).
“The family is destroyed,” Arslan Hanif, Ashraf’s second cousin, told CBC Canada.
A GoFundMe started for Hong’s family has raised over $24,000. A GoFundMe was also started for Ashraf but the family has asked its organizer to stop accepting donations.
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