Police release description of North End shooting suspect

Police have released a description of the gunman involved in a fatal shooting in the North End last week and investigators say they believe some eye witnesses saw the shooting happen, but are too afraid to come forward.

The man is described as a black, in his twenties, about 6 feet tall and with a thin build, a police news release reads.

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Police believe this man is the shooter in the Aug. 12incident that killed 18-year-old Shariek Douse. Officers ended up with various suspect descriptions because when gunfire rang out on the night of the shooting, many people started running away in a panic for fear of their own safety, said Det. Joe Stewart of the police homicide unit.

"The scene at the time was very chaotic," Stewart said.

Several people were interviewed in the days after the incident, but the majority of suspect descriptions given to police are believed to have been of residents or visitors to the area who weren't involved.

Though their interviews, investigators say they believe there are people living in the neighbourhood who have "valuable information" but haven't said anything.

"It is believed that there may have been eye witnesses who have been reluctant to come forward and speak with police," a news release reads.

Stewart told CBC News that some people may be withholding information out of fear, or a perceived stigma about talking to police.

Douse's cousin and friends say the shooting escalated because of a "Twitter beef." Stewart says there is a lot of "rumour and innuendo" going around on social media about the incident and who is responsible. "But I'd strongly caution drawing conclusions without factual evidence," he said.

Police are also studying security camera footage taken from the area around the time of the incident, though none of the footage actually shows the shooting take place.

Stewart would not say if investigators are close to any arrests, saying that this is still a "very fluid investigation."

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information to call police at 905-546-3836 or if submit a tip on the Crime Stoppers website.