Police release image of suspect vehicle that appears to be linked to Thornhill boxing gym shooting

Police included this image of a suspect vehicle in their press release. (Credit: York Regional Police)

Police have released an image of a suspect vehicle that appears to be linked to the targeted shooting of a Thornhill boxing gym owned by an Iranian-Canadian activist over the weekend.

York Regional Police say they responded to reports of gunfire at a commercial plaza near Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue East at around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

On scene, officers say they found “damage consistent with multiple rounds having been fired at the business,” which investigators said was unoccupied at that time.

Surveillance footage from the area captured a suspect wearing dark clothing exiting and re-entering that driver’s seat of a dark-coloured SUV that was parked at the plaza where the incident occurred, they said.

That vehicle fled the area and was last seen heading eastbound on Highland Park Boulevard.

No injuries have been reported.

‘It’s so dangerous,’ says gym owner

CTV News Toronto previously reported about a shooting targeted a gym near the same intersection on Sunday.

The gym’s owner said at the time that he thinks his gym was targeted due to his public support for recent military strikes on Iran.

Police, however, say no motive has been confirmed and the investigation remains ongoing.

READ MORE: ‘It’s crazy’: Thornhill gym of Iranian-Canadian activist hit by bullets

Police ‘aware of concerns’

“York Regional Police are aware of concerns within the community that this incident may be linked to broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” they said in a news release on Monday.

“We recognize these concerns and take them seriously, and are examining all available leads and evidence as we’re working closely with policing and intelligence partners to assess any potential links, including the possibility of politically motivated or transnational elements.”

Police are asking anyone with surveillance or dashcam footage from the area to reach out to them. They also want to speak with anyone who saw what happened and has not yet come forward.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Firearms Investigations Team at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7817, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.