Police investigating after 24-year-old man fatally shot at Burlington Centre

Halton police are investigating a Monday night shooting at the Burlington Centre on Guelph Line that left one man dead.

Officers say they arrived on scene at approximately 10:10 p.m., responding to reports of a man being shot. The man was then transported to hospital but later died of his injuries.

Authorities have identified the victim as 24-year-old Omer Niaz Muhammad of Burlington.

Muhammad was an aspiring rapper who went by the stage name “Lil OT” and was working on his career.

Police are currently searching for two suspects who fled in a white SUV. They believe this was a targeted incident and say there are no known risks to public safety.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Const. Jeff Dillon, spokesperson with Halton Regional Police said this is Burlington’s first homicide of the year.

“That’s going to be part of our investigation,” he said. “To see what the motive was and what any relationship was there.”

Dillon said the man was shot in the in the upper part of his body.

No suspect descriptions have been provided at this time.

According to the Halton Regional Police Services website, this is the second shooting to happen in the Halton region this year. The first one took place in Georgetown, Ont. earlier in January.

CHCH News learned Muhammad’s family home in Hamilton was a target nearly three years ago, when a gunman fired more than 50 bullets into the house and vehicles.

Anyone who may have security or dash-cam footage of Guelph Line, Prospect Street and Fairview Street around the time of the shooting is asked to contact police at 905-825-4776.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on their website.

This is a developing story. More to come. 

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