Man, 28, teenage boy shot two days apart

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Homicide detectives continue to probe the deaths of a 28-year-old man and a 17-year-old teen who were shot two days apart in east Scarborough.

Paid duty officers were at a bar in a shopping plaza on Rylander Boulevard, near Kingston Road and Hwy. 401, when shots rang out early Saturday. Michael Watson, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police didn’t release a description of the shooter or shooters.

Toronto Police spokesman Const. Tony Vella said investigators are appealing to people with information to come forward.

At 6:39 p.m. Thursday, 17-year-old Shazad Khawaja was gunned down outside his apartment building at 90 Mornelle Court in the Ellesmere Road and Morningside Avenue area.

A funeral was held Monday at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, a mosque on Nugget Avenue.

Shazad was a student at nearby Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School.

Many of his teachers and schoolmates were among the hundreds of mourners.

“He was a very intelligent kid. He always had 90-plus marks in school,” said Shazad’s father, Waheed.
“You can ask anybody how nice a kid he was. He was always helpful to people, towards the community too.”

Shazad, a Grade 11 student, wanted to be a lawyer. The teen lived with his parents on the top floor of the highrise. He had two brothers who resided elsewhere.

Waheed said he has “no idea” why someone wanted to kill his son.

“They killed a young 17-year-old good looking innocent guy,” he said, noting an arrest in the case would bring “a little relief.”

Shazad’s mother, Naila, has diabetes and other health problems and isn’t coping well.

“She’s taking it very hard,” said Waheed.

The murder occurred near the spot where a 22-year-old man was shot in the neck and legs on the evening of July 12. The man was taken to hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Anyone with information about the murders can call the homicide squad at 416-808-7400. People with information on the July 12 shooting should call 43 Division at 416-808-4300.