Liam Casey, The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, September 14, 2022 11:07 a.m. EDT Last updated Wednesday, September 14, 2022 2:30 p.m. EDT
TORONTO – The suspect in a series of shootings that killed a Toronto police officer and an auto shop owner this week had an extensive criminal record, including gang ties at one point.
Parole Board of Canada documents show the man believed to be behind Monday’s shootings in the Toronto and Hamilton area had a history of robbery, drug trafficking and gun possession, as well as gang ties.
The Special Investigations Unit is not releasing the suspect’s name because they say his family did not provide consent.
Peel Regional Police initially identified the suspect as Sean Petrie, 30, in their province-wide emergency alert Monday, which warned the public of an “active shooter, armed and dangerous.” Sources close to the investigation, who were not authorized to speak publicly, identified the man as Sean Petrie, 40.
The SIU said four officers shot Petrie later Monday and he died after a standoff at a Hamilton cemetery.
Parole board documents for Sean Petrie, who has the same birth date as the suspect in Monday’s shootings, show the man was incarcerated in 2010 — the location was redacted on parole documents — at medium security and subject to exemption by law.
“Your cycle of crime, as evidenced by your criminal history, is directly related to the negative influence of other criminals, including those involved in the gang subculture,” the board wrote on Aug. 17, 2010.
“Your involvement in these associates led to your convictions for property crimes, robbery, drug trafficking and gun possession.”
The board said Petrie scored -3 on the recidivism statistics scale, which it said meant “1 in 2 offenders will not commit indictable offenses upon release.”
The board imposed a number of conditions on Petrie’s release. They do not include contact with any gangs, including anyone associated with a particular gang. Band name redacted.
To prevent him from associating with that gang, the board banned Petrie from entering a part of northwest Toronto “where the predominance of your criminal activity occurred.”
The board also made it a condition that he refrain from buying and taking over-the-counter drugs.
“You have demonstrated comfort with the possession of cocaine and other drugs for the purpose of trafficking,” the board wrote. “There is also an indication of regular marijuana use that is not beneficial to your rehabilitation. You refused institutional drug screening, resulting in sanctions.
Petrie had completed the violence prevention program “with some success” and the board noted that he had support from his girlfriend and siblings at the time.
The parole board also imposed “enhanced supervision” due to “negative institutional behavior.”
Petrie also had to get a job as a “key board” for his release into the community.
“You will need assistance in this area, given that most of your previous ability to raise money has been illegitimate,” the board said.
The parole board said Wednesday that Petrie’s legal release was a matter of law, not a board decision.
He had to fulfill a set of conditions over a period of time to complete his sentence, which he did on June 19, 2012, the board said.
“The risk assessment that was carried out to make this decision was based on the offender’s behavior at the time,” the board said.
Petrie was not serving a federal sentence at the time of this week’s shootings, the board said.
Police say the suspect in Monday’s shooting launched an “unprovoked” attack on Const. Andrew Hong at 2:15 p.m. when the officer was eating lunch at Tim Hortons during a break from motorcycle training in Mississauga, Ontario. Another person was shot at this location.
The suspect then continued shooting and killed the owner of the auto shop, Shakeel Ashraf, 38, and wounded two others in Milton, Ont., before fleeing again.
Sources say a highway chase then ensued, eventually leading to Hamilton Cemetery around 4:30 p.m., where the suspect died.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 14, 2022.
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