Toronto, Canada — A daylight shooting in Toronto’s Don Mills area on Monday took the lives of two individuals, including a man previously implicated in a multi-million dollar fraud case. The violence shook the local community and opened up new facets to ongoing investigations surrounding the victims.
Arash Missaghi, 54, identified by police as one of the deceased, was a figure in a 2018 major fraud inquiry known as “Project Bridle Path” where he and three associates were accused of orchestrating a complicated scheme involving high-end properties, amounting to about $17 million in fraudulent activities.
Alongside Missaghi, 44-year-old Samira Yousefi from Concord was also found dead. Both Missaghi and Yousefi were recently named in a civil lawsuit filed on June 4, alleging involvement in mortgage fraud, raising questions about potential motives linked to their untimely deaths.
Toronto Police are investigating the possibility of a double murder-suicide after discovering a third individual deceased at the scene, who is suspected to be the shooter. However, the identity of this third person remains unconfirmed, and police have yet to establish the exact dynamics of the shooting.
Detective Sergeant Jason Bartlett emphasized the need for open-mindedness in the homicide investigation. He mentioned that while it’s suspected that the shooter died by suicide, definitive conclusions await the results of forthcoming autopsies.
The shooting occurred in the lobby of an office building located at 25 Mallard Road, which also houses educational facilities such as the St. George Mini School and Infant Care. Authorities clarified that the incident was unrelated to the school, ensuring that the focus remains on the individuals directly involved.
As the community reels from the shock, the possible linking of past criminal activities to this violent episode adds layers to the tragedy, suggesting that the deceased were potentially entangled in a network of financial deceit with fatal consequences. The investigation continues as detectives piece together the events leading up to the grim discovery, aiming to provide answers in the shadow of complex legal and criminal puzzles surrounding the lives of Arash Missaghi and Samira Yousefi.