Peel Regional Police say a woman was sent to hospital with a foot injury after shots were fired during a violent and ‘traumatic’ home invasion in Brampton early Tuesday morning.
The incident took place around 4 a.m. in the area of Goreway Drive and Castlemore Road. Peel Const. Moulika Sharma said the woman’s injuries were not the result of being shot and that two suspects fled afterwards.
“Upon arrival officers located one adult female with an injury on her foot, medical assistance was rendered and the victim was transferred to a local hospital and is in non-life-threatening condition,” Sharma told reporters at the scene.
Suspects entered through side of house
“Investigators believe there may be at least two suspects who entered at the residence which triggered an altercation and possible gunfire,” Sharma said. The home is near Goreway Dr. and Castlemore Rd., and police believe the suspects entered at the side of the house and it was a targeted invasion.
Sharma couldn’t say if the shots were fired by the suspects or by the multiple people inside the home. “We found shell casings inside the residence and that’s a part of our investigation as to what pertained to that incident,” she said.
No threat to public safety
“Investigators believe, as of right now, with what information we have so far, that this is a targeted incident and there is no threat to public safety,” Sharma added. She didn’t know if anything was stolen before the suspects fled, and descriptions of them and a possible getaway vehicle are still forthcoming.
The family is “pretty traumatized from this incident,” Sharma said. “We’re just taking it slow just to navigate and determine what actually led to this incident. At this point we’re just trying to provide them with resources.”
Possible link to earlier incident
Sharma also said she was unaware of any previous incidents related to the home invasion. “What I can tell you is that there was an unrelated incident a long time ago and we’re just trying to determine the link, if this was possibly related or not,” she said.
She acknowledged neighbours might be on high alert. “It is a very disturbing experience. Just when you’re sleeping in the middle of the night, in her bed cozy, and you do not expect someone to armed rob you, just get into your house in a forced entry. At that point, we can just (say) prioritize yourself, your safety, assess the situation, be very cognisant of your surroundings, exercise caution, providing there is no harm to you or to your loved ones around you, and call us immediately because the sooner we come, the faster we take control.”
Previous home invasion in Brampton
A man and a woman were shot during an earlier home invasion in Brampton last month. Police were canvassing the neighbourhood on Tuesday in the aftermath and were asking for anyone with video footage, dashcam video or who witnessed anything to call them at 905-453-2121, ext. 2133.
Last September, Peel Police launched the Break and Enter and Auto Response Unit or B.E.A.R. and recovered 80 stolen vehicles and arrested 21 suspects in the first three months, targeting car thieves and bandits who break into homes.
