Appeal For Info-Mother Dylan Ellis

Info Call D/Sgt Gary Giroux or Det Mary Vruna Toronto Homicide 416-808-7400

Anonymous Info Submit to Crime Stoppers:
Talk: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
Type: http://222tips.com
Text: TOR and your tip to CRIMES

Note: $50,000 reward is offered by police for a witness to come forward and be identified, NOT Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers offers up to $2,000.00 reward for any info that assists to prevent or solve any crime and you remain anonymous.

The mothers of two men gunned down while sitting in an SUV made an impassioned plea for help, as police offered up a $50,000 reward and a new theory as to why the 25-year-old best friends were killed.

Karen Ellis and Susan Martin, mothers of the victims

Homicide investigator D/Sgt. Gary Giroux told a press conference this morning that he believes Dylan Ellis and Oliver Martin were mistakenly targeted on June 13 because they were identified with another person driving a black Range Rover or were perceived to have slighted the gunman in some way.

The motive remains unclear to us, Giroux said. Id like to re-focus the investigation to a case of mistaken identity, he said, noting that someone driving a similar SUV a dark-coloured Range Rover or Land Rover may have had a dispute with the gunman in the area before the shooting.

Shortly after midnight on June 13, Ellis and Martin were killed after returning to a friends apartment building near Richmond St. W. and Walnut St., to drop off a set of keys. Both were shot by a single gunman while still restrained in their seatbelts.

If anyone on this particular evening had any kind of road rage or dispute with anyone in that particular area I would like those individuals to contact the Homicide Squad, said Giroux, who also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Karen Ellis said the person who took the life of her son and his best friend should know the young men were innocent in every way.

If he had reached out to Dylan and Oliver with a hand instead of a gun, they would have been the first to offer theirs back to them to help in any way, she said. Find the courage to come forward.

She said that the families are coping with the tragedy with the support of friends, family and the many young pals of Dylan and Oliver who stop by their homes.

Weve had an overwhelming amount of support and love from the people of Toronto and it has helped us more than we can ever express to you, said Ellis. Letters and cards still arrive, some from people who dont know us, but know this violent crime should never have happened and it could have been anyones sons or daughters.

What we havent gotten yet is that one phone call or letter from someone who knows something or anything about who did this.

Oliver Martins mother, Susan, said her sons death has sent shockwaves through her family and friends.

My life ended with Olivers, said Susan Martin. The rest of our family has lost their innocence.

Anyone with information is asked to call Homicide Squad Det. Mary Vruna at 416-808-7387 or D/Sgt Gary Giroux at 416-808-7380 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS or online at 222tips.com or text a tip to TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Video appeals are available at youtube.com/1800222TIPS

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• oliver
• martin
• dylan
• ellis
• murder
• range
• rover
• handgun
• ban
• shooting
• toronto
• police
• crime
• stoppers
• 222tips

[facetha]

Bottom line is. Most guns used in crime are stolen.

[BlackJays]

In a nutshell, here's what I think: I'm not against banning handguns in Canada, but, like I mentioned before, there are many law-abiding citizens (with guns) in this country. Maybe it does take banning handguns to stop the violence, but who knows? Harper just earned a minorty gov. again, so perhaps we shouldn't expect a ban anytime soon. The gov. should do whatever it takes to curb violence in Toronto and the rest of Canada, just as long as it works, gradually. (Last comment.)

[decadentunicorn]

Another important factor to consider is that every criminal starts somewhere, and his or her first crime may very well be a gun crime. It is not just people in organized crime who commit homicides either. Stats Can 2006 Report: "The large majority of homicide victims were killed by someone they knew. About one-third of victims were killed by an acquaintance, 17% by a spouse, 19% by a family member other than a spouse [...]."

[decadentunicorn]

A 2006 Statistics Canada Report:

"Of the 45 recovered firearms where ownership could be determined, police reported that 26 were owned by the accused and 2 by the victim. The remaining 17 firearms were owned by someone other than the accused or victim, of which 10 were reported to have been stolen." Although this is a small pool to be extrapolating from, 10 out of 45 is 22%. That's hardly what I'd call rare.

[decadentunicorn]

"Dr. Ted Miller, National Public Services Research Institute examined the link between gun ownership rates and firearms death within Canadian provinces, the United States, England/Wales and Australia and concluded that 92% of the variance in death rates was explained by access to firearms in those areas. He suggested that a 1% increase (or decrease) in the percentage of households with guns in Canada would be associated with a 5.8% increase (or decrease) in the Canadian gun death rate."

[decadentunicorn]

I never said the police should wait for a ban before making efforts to curb illegal trafficking. I was merely conceding that a handgun ban would not eliminate the need for other regulatory measures. There are a number of statistics that demonstrate a correlation between the availability of guns and the rate of death by guns (homicide, accident, and suicide).

[BlackJays]

Law-abiding citizens shouldn't have to hand over anything, because they aren't the troublemakers. Sometimes their guns are stolen by criminals, but that's rare. They could unknowingly sell their guns to criminals, but I believe that's also rare. Police shouldn't have to wait until there's a ban before they take other measures and curb illegal trafficking, they should be doing that already.

[decadentunicorn]

Presumably most law-abiding citizens would be willing to hand over their guns if a ban were implemented. That would mean there would be fewer guns available to steal. Obviously the police would have to take other measures as well to curb illegal trafficking in guns.

[BlackJays]

That's a big IF.

[decadentunicorn]

It is still legal for Canadians to keep registered handguns in their homes. The problem is that most crimes are committed with stolen guns. If we reduce the number of guns in our country with a ban, it may help to reduce gun violence. I think it is worth a try.