Residents at the Highland Homes Co-op on Galt Avenue were shocked when gunshots rang out around 10 p.m. last night.
According to police, a break-and-enter turned violent as three victims were sent to hospital, one with a gunshot wound.
"Three males had entered a residence and an altercation took place. As a result of the altercation, a 24-year-old male was shot and shot multiple times. Two other males were also injured during the incident," said Waterloo Regional Police Service insp. Kyle Lambert as he gave an update on the shooting in front of the home.
Hamza Abhi has lived in the town-home complex his whole life and has never experienced something like this. Abhi, who is close friends with the shooting victim's brother noted he was with him at the time of his brother's shooting.
"I knew something happened, but I was just shocked," said Abhi. "My brother heard like three or four shots so we all got out of the house, but we were so unaware that this might have been like four doors down from us."
Abhi notes that his friend was emotional not knowing the state of his family members who were in the hospital, but is thankful he was not in the home.
"I don't know what could have happened if he was in the house, because even his youngest brother was in the house and he was sleeping and got woken up to basically getting robbed."
After the gunshots rang out through the complex. the suspects fled the residence on foot and were later found with the assistance of the WRPS canine unit.
"We were able to locate the three suspects hiding in a nearby shed. Members of our emergency response team surrounded the shed and the three male suspects were arrested without incident," added Lambert.
A loaded handgun was found inside the shed with the three suspects.
Two of the victims who lived at the home were also transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
As a result of the investigation, a 47-year-old man, a 24-year-old man and a 16-year-old male, all from the Greater Toronto Area, have been charged with multiple criminal offences, including aggravated assault and robbery with a firearm.
Police expect more charges to be laid as the investigation continues. All three suspects were held for a bail hearing.
Lambert notes that while it has only been 12 hours into the investigation, all the suspects involved are believed to be arrested and there are no concerns for public safety.
This latest incident marks the 16th shooting for Waterloo Region in 2024, setting the region on pace to surpass last year's total with 18 shooting investigations.
"Obviously concerning that we have, I believe 16 shootings in our region this year and there is a proliferation of youth with firearms and we're seeing that in an increase in those types of offences," said Lambert.
"It's something that's concerning for us and we're trying to take steps to realize that, notify the public and take steps to lessen that taking place."
