Markham man is city’s latest homicide victim
33-year-old found shot inside Peter St. nightclub is fifth killing in past week
Toronto police have identified 33-year-old Jordan Armstrong as the victim of a shooting inside a nightclub in the Entertainment District early Sunday, the city’s fifth homicide in a violent week.
Staff at the Orchid Nightclub, on Peter St. near Adelaide St. W., called police after finding Armstrong seriously wounded inside the club at closing time, shortly before 3 a.m., Const. David Hopkinson said. The Markham man was rushed to the hospital suffering from gunshot wounds and he later died, police said.
A friend identified Armstrong to the Star as a club promoter. On his Instagram feed, he can be seen promoting several events at the Orchid Nightclub. “For a second Canada Day weekend in a row, we have experienced an unacceptable level of gun violence,” Mayor John Tory said, responding to the killing. “My heart goes out to the families, friends and communities who have been impacted by these senseless acts of violence.”
“Toronto has seen a series of gun-related deaths over the last four days. One is too many,” police Chief Mark Saunders said in a tweet Sunday.
“We need the public’s help. If you have any information, video or photos, please contact the @TorontoPolice,” he wrote.
Police said they believe Armstrong was shot inside the club.
A gun was retrieved by police “very close” to where Armstrong was found, Hopkinson said, adding that police will need to determine if the gun was involved in the incident.
Police are urging any patrons of the club to come forward with photographs or videos taken inside the crowded venue Saturday night.
Armstrong is Toronto’s 32nd homicide victim of 2019 and the fifth to die in a series of killings in a week.
On Thursday, a teenager identified as Jaydin Simpson,17, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Scarborough housing complex just hours after his high school graduation.
Two days later, Christopher Teape, 25, and Ahmed Mohamud, 32, were killed in a targeted double-homicide at an apartment building in Toronto’s Mount Dennis neighbourhood.
By July 1, 2018, Toronto had seen 50 homicides, including 24 gun deaths. The year ended with a record-breaking singleyear total of 96 homicides.
Armstrong is the 19th person to die in a fatal shooting in the city this year.
Atotal of 26 men and six women have been killed in Toronto in 2019.