Toronto police identify 18-year-old killed in Etobicoke shooting

TORONTO — Toronto Police Service has identified the young man killed in a shooting in Etobicoke, in the city's west end, on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 7. Police said he was Malik Abbas, 18, of Mississauga, Ontario.

The announcement came hours after the investigation began into the killing, which is officially the 33rd homicide recorded in Toronto since the start of 2026.

Police released a photo of the victim and asked anyone with information about the incident or the people involved to contact investigators. The search continues for suspects who left the area before officers arrived.

Details of the Etobicoke shooting

According to the official statement, Toronto police received a report of a shooting at about 4:27 p.m. on Saturday, near the intersection of Rathburn Road and The East Mall.

When officers arrived, they found a young man with gunshot wounds who needed urgent medical attention.

Emergency crews tried to save his life at the scene before an ambulance took him to hospital for treatment.

Those efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead in hospital from his injuries. Police then began treating the case as a homicide.

The statement did not say how many bullets struck the victim or what led up to the shooting, and it did not describe any possible relationship between him and the attackers.

Search for two men in dark clothing

Inspector Jeff Allington said at a media briefing after the incident that investigators are looking for two men seen wearing dark clothing, based on the initial information available to police.

He added that the suspects left the area before patrol officers arrived, and that investigators did not have detailed descriptions at the time that would allow the two men to be identified.

The Homicide and Missing Persons Unit is handling the case and is gathering evidence and reconstructing the timeline of events.

Police have not announced any arrests, have not disclosed a possible motive, and have not said whether the victim was specifically targeted.

These details remain under investigation, and there is no confirmed information that would explain what led to the young man's death.

Victim's photo released to assist investigation

Toronto police issued a new statement on Sunday, Nov. 8, confirming the identity of Malik Abbas and releasing his official photo. The step is meant to reach people who may have known the victim or seen movements linked to the crime.

The statement said the young man lived in Mississauga. It did not say why he was in Etobicoke at the time of the incident.

Police urged witnesses to provide any information that could help identify the suspects or determine which direction they fled.

Investigators also asked residents and shop owners to review security camera footage, particularly recordings taken before and after the shooting.

Footage from vehicles equipped with front-facing cameras could also help establish the movements of people and vehicles near the intersection of Rathburn Road and The East Mall.

33rd homicide in Toronto this year

Police said Abbas's killing is the 33rd homicide in Toronto in 2026, according to the official tally recorded as of Nov. 8.

The incident caused concern in the residential area around the shooting scene, where police increased their presence during the early stages of the investigation.

Inspector Allington had said officers would remain deployed to collect evidence and speak with residents, stressing the importance of public co-operation in establishing the circumstances of the crime.

The information released so far does not indicate a specific, ongoing danger to residents, but it also does not settle the circumstances that led to the shooting.

How to provide information to police

The homicide unit asked anyone with information to contact it directly at 416-808-7400.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477. Police asked that case number 2026-2357398 be referenced when contacting them.

As of the latest official statement, the investigation remains open, and authorities have not named the suspects or announced any arrests.

Toronto police hope new information and surveillance footage will help identify those responsible for the 18-year-old's death and clarify the circumstances of the crime.