Man charged with attempted murder armed suspect shot at his Ontario home: police

A man has been charged with attempted murder after an armed suspect was shot in the backyard of his Ontario home, police say.

York Regional Police said that on Thursday at 7:53 a.m., an officer who was conducting traffic control in the Bathurst Street and Bloomington Road area of the Township of King heard gunshots and went to the scene.

“A man at the residence stated he observed two armed males, dressed in dark clothing, in his backyard,” police said in a news release.

“There was an exchange of gunfire and one of the suspects was struck.”

The suspects fled prior to police arriving, the release said.

No one at the home was reported to be injured.

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A “short time later,” police were called about a man who went to a local hospital with gunshot wounds, the release said. His injuries were deemed non-life-threatening and he has been released from hospital.

Police said they believe the incident was targeted.

Const. Lisa Moskulak confirmed to INsauga.com that the exchange of gunfire involved a resident of the home and the suspects.

“All three were charged with attempted murder,” she said.

It’s not clear who may have shot first or if the resident of the home is a legal gun owner.

“That will be evidentiary information we would not release in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure a fair trial,” Moskulak said.

Thierry Krnic, 57, of the Township of King, as well as Rigan Ricardo Estick, 19, and a 17-year-old boy — both Toronto residents — have each been charged with attempted murder.

Initially, just Krnic was charged with attempted murder, while Estick and the minor were charged with discharging a firearm. The 17-year-old boy was also initially charged with obstructing police.

“We have charged three people with attempted murder based on the evidence we have so far. Our job is to lay the most appropriate charge according to the evidence. If that changes, then the charges can change – as we saw already,” Moskulak said.

“It’s only a day after the incident. New information comes in all the time. It is up to the investigators how they handle that information/evidence. They follow the evidence and lay the appropriate charges.”

Anyone with information on the case was asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.