A chilling image has been released by police, depicting a vehicle believed to be connected to a targeted shooting at a Richmond Hill boxing club over the weekend. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, shattering the quiet of a commercial plaza near Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue.
The Saliwan Boxing Club, owned by Canadian cruiserweight champion Salar Gholami, bore the brunt of the attack. Gholami, a vocal advocate for Iranian freedom who grew up in Iran, discovered seventeen bullet holes marking the gym’s entrance. He fears this wasn’t random, but a deliberate attempt to silence dissent.
Gholami expressed deep concern, stating the sheer number of bullets suggested an intent to harm multiple people. He warned that intimidation tactics against critics of the Iranian regime could escalate into a significant problem for Canada, demanding a firm response.
Police responding to reports of gunfire found evidence of multiple rounds fired at the unoccupied building. Fortunately, no one was injured during the brazen attack. Investigators are meticulously reviewing surveillance footage from the area.
Video captured a dark SUV lingering at the plaza, with a figure dressed in dark clothing briefly exiting the vehicle before speeding away eastbound on Highland Park Boulevard. This vehicle is now central to the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are actively seeking information from the public, urging anyone with relevant surveillance or dashcam footage to come forward. They acknowledge the community’s anxieties surrounding potential connections to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Investigators are collaborating closely with intelligence partners, carefully examining all leads to determine if the shooting was politically motivated or linked to transnational elements. The possibility of a broader, more complex motive is being thoroughly explored.
Anyone possessing information related to this incident is urged to contact the York Regional Police firearms investigations team or Crime Stoppers. The investigation remains active and ongoing, seeking to uncover the truth behind this disturbing act of violence.
