Ontario political leaders and close friends say a man who died during a home invasion in Vaughan on the weekend was killed in front of his children.
Abdul Aleem Farooqi, 46, a husband and father of four, was a man of faith, charity and community, according to his friends. One has described him as “noble.”
York Regional Police say the home invasion was targeted, but they have released few details about the incident and have not confirmed that there was a shooting.
In a news release on Sunday, police said they responded to a residence in the area of Andreeta Drive and Barons Street for a report of a home invasion shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday. When officers arrived, police said they found a man suffering from trauma to his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The chief coroner’s officer later identified the man.
Police said they are looking for at least three suspects who are described as wearing dark clothing and face coverings.
Farooqi’s close friends said they are in disbelief that he was killed, with both of those who spoke to CBC Toronto saying the victim’s family told them he was shot in front of his children.
His close friend Ehsan Malik, a family friend who knew Farooqi for about 15 years, said he is “devastated” and he wishes the news was a “nightmare” from which he could wake up. He said Farooqi went by the name Aleem.
“Aleem was a brother. He was not a blood brother but if I had a problem, I’d go to Aleem first before I’d go to my real brother,” Malik said.
“Charity was in his blood. He was always finding excuses to help others or to help the community.”
Wasib Dheendsa, another family friend, said Farooqi worked for an air duct cleaning service, Unique Providers, and he had three daughters and a son. He had a unique ability to treat friends like family and he encouraged people to be the best version of themselves, he said.
“Without any ambiguity of the term, he was truly the embodiment of the word noble,” Dheendsa said. “He was a man of very strong faith.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, at an unrelated news conference in Kitchener, Ont., told reporters on Tuesday that Farooqi was a friend and intruders kicked in the doors of his home in the middle of the night.
Ford said Farooqi was shot dead in front of his children.
“Just imagine, you know … the trauma these kids are going to go through for the rest of their lives,” Ford said.
“I have a saying for the folks that are defending their homes: ‘I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.’ And unfortunately, my friend Aleem is going to be carried by six because he’s trying to defend his family,” Ford said.
Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca, in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday said he has heard from family and friends of the victim.
“The deplorable criminals who killed this man, in front of his wife and kids in their own home, need to be captured and face swift and harsh punishment,” Del Duca said in the statement.
The killing also attracted the attention of Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lecce said on Monday: “This is an unimaginable nightmare for the family and for all the neighbours. My deepest condolences to the Farooqi family. I met Abdul over the past years, and will remember him as a good family man and a hardworking business leader.”
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sarkaria said on Tuesday: “This is absolutely heartbreaking and enraging. No parent should ever have to face the nightmare of someone pointing a gun at their child in their own home.”
Meanwhile, a small memorial is growing near Farooqi’s home.
Hundreds showed up for a last-minute vigil on Monday to remember him. Police are scheduled to provide an update on Wednesday.
