Police reveal suspect in Canadian casino security murder is a teenager
Authorities are searching for a 17-year-old suspect believed to have killed a security guard at the Pickering casino resort in Ontario last month.
Teja Nosworthy-Smith is wanted in connection with the October 9 murder of Michael Ferdinand, 34. Durham Regional Police (DRP) identified Noseworthy-Smith as a suspect in last week's murder. According to CBC News, they want to charge him with second-degree murder.
We're asking for the public's assistance in locating him," DRP Detective Sergeant Brad Corner told Canadian reporters last week.
Noseworthy-Smith is a black male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. He has a tattoo on his left elbow that reads "Chantelle." He is also known as "Baby2". Police say Nosworthy-Smith may live in the Jane and Finch area of northwest Toronto.
Authorities are warning the public that Nosworthy Smith is armed and dangerous. No one should approach him, but call 911 immediately.
He was identified as a suspect after investigators interviewed witnesses and cleared surveillance footage.
The play area is located near Church Street and Highway 401 in Pickering, about 28 miles east of Toronto. The casino is operated by the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, Ontario's largest land-based casino operator.
Other suspects
Additional suspects were later identified in connection with the shooting. It appears the gunman fired "numerous" bullets at Ferdinand while he was on duty at the casino complex.
Authorities have not revealed a motive for the murder, which occurred as Canadians celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.
Now, we have a responsibility to bring [Ferdinand’s] family, friends and colleagues to justice. ”CBC News quoted Kohner as saying.
Ferdinand was taken to a trauma center with life-threatening injuries, but his life could not be saved.
Family Fundraiser
Following the murder, a GoFundMe page was set up to support Ferdinand's family. As of Monday morning, $37,390 had been raised.
Our brother was taken from us... This was a senseless act of gun violence, there was no reason for it to escalate to this level, it was way too soon," said Vinnie Qualley, another casino security guard Viny Cuellar said on the GoFundMe page. "Mike was just doing his job ensuring the protection and safety of his team and the lives of everyone else who was at the casino that night, [or] was at the casino or was at casino. "
All proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the guard's widow Marla and other relatives to "ease the pain and financial burden of losing the irreplaceable Mike Ferdinand".
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Source: www.casino.org
