Armed home invaders shot a woman and her two dogs – killing one – in the small community of Nobleton early Tuesday.
And before the three gunmen fled the scene, they tried to set the woman’s house ablaze.
York Regional Police say officers responded to the home invasion at the residence near Hwy. 27 and King Vaughan Rd. around 3:50 a.m.
“When officers arrived, a 47-year-old woman was located and was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” Const. James Dickson said Wednesday.
He said three armed males broke into the home, confronted the woman and shot her.
The home invaders then “poured an accelerant within the residence and attempted to ignite it,” Dickson said, adding the gunmen “also shot both of the victim’s dogs, one of which succumbed to its injuries.”
The trio then fled the scene in a dark-coloured sedan.
Investigators are looking for three young males who wore dark clothing and were armed with at least two firearms.
“There were four other people in the residence at the time of the incident and no other injuries were reported,” Dickson said.
“This is an isolated incident and believed to be targeted,” he added.
There have been several other high-profile incidents of gun violence in Nobleton – a community in King Township that has a population of only about 6,500 – in recent months.
Two gunmen shot up a house in the same neighbourhood, in the area of Paradise Valley Tr. and Anderson Cove Tr., around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2024. The pair then took off after the incident, which was caught on video, in a dark-coloured SUV driven by a third person.
A police cruiser and several other vehicles were also smashed up by fleeing bandits – at least one of whom was armed with a gun – when cops interrupted a break-and-enter in progress at a house near Paradise Valley Tr. and Fairmont Ridge Tr. around 4 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2024. The crooks ultimately ditched their grey 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer and took off on foot, but one suspect was arrested soon after and a handgun was seized.
Jasanthan Kandiah, 27, of Toronto, was charged with break-and-enter with intent, dangerous operation, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, possession of a firearm knowing its serial number has been tampered with, possession of firearm without holding a licence, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, possession of a prohibited device, unlawful possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, driving while under suspension, and three counts of possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition order.
A second suspect – described as a brown male, about 5-foot-8 with short brown hair – got away.
There was also a home invasion on Paradise Valley Tr. in which a man was wounded by gunfire after rushing to the aid of his neighbours around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2024. Two males, described as Black, tall with a slim build, and wearing construction vests and hooded sweatshirts, fled that incident in a pickup truck.
Dickson said there is “nothing to link” Tuesday’s home invasion “to any of the other Nobleton shootings.”
“We want to emphasis to the Nobleton community that while it is concerning that armed criminals had come into to the small community, it is a targeted and isolated incident,” he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).