Police respond to reports of multiple gunshots in Waterloo and Kitchener (update)

Regional police continue to investigate after multiple gunshots were reported in Kitchener and Waterloo Saturday afternoon.

According to police, there were reports of shots fired near Avalon Place in Kitchener, and more shots were heard at Highway 85 near Bridgeport Road in Waterloo around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The incidents are believed to be related.

A 23 year old male victim was located in wooded area near Avalon Place. That victim was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds. Their condition is currently unknown. 

Regional Police are now seeking a four-door grey Mercedes-Benz AMG E 63 with no front plate. At least two individuals were seen inside. The vehicle had a stolen rear Ontario plate, but was earlier seen with a Quebec plate. Residents are encouraged to call 911 immediately if that vehicle is seen.

The victim's vehicle was a 2016 four-door grey Honda Civic, and it's believed that a shot was fired into the car by a front passenger of the Mercedes before both vehicles continued southbound on the expressway. 

Both cars drove to Avalon Place in Kitchener where more shots were fired, and the Mercedes was seen driving near Barbara Crescent and Stirling Avenue South, heading toward Homer Watson Boulevard. 

There will be an increased police presence in the area of Avalon Place as members of the emergency response team, major crime unit, general investigations unit, forensic identification unit and resources from the investigative services branch all continue to investigate. A remotely piloted vehicle was also deployed to assist in that effort.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, the southbound express lanes of Highway 85 were partially closed Saturday in the area of Bridgeport Road.

While they investigated, police had asked residents living in the area of Avalon Place to stay inside their homes for several hours as a safety precaution. Members of the service's Emergency Response Team were also on scene.

Following the incidents, Regional Police Chief Bryan Larkin said the recent shootings — including the two from just yesterday — have “resulted in significant demand on police resources across our Service”.

In a public statement, he said Waterloo Region's violent crime rate has risen by three per cent in 2020, and is now the second highest of the 12 largest municipal police services in the province of Ontario.

The recent shootings also prompted a response from Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, who took to social media to say he is feeling increasingly troubled by the recent incidents.

He is now calling on Queen's Park & Ottawa to ensure that regional police have everything they need to tackle “cross-jurisdictional organized crime, guns & gangs.”

Anyone with information on either incident is being asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

A large police presence on the east end of Avalon Place in Kitchener, one of 2 shooting investigations. A large swath of area is taped off with police tape, including a wooded area at the end of the street and behind an apartment building. pic.twitter.com/3yeaFge5Ma

— Mark Paré (@MarkLPare) August 14, 2021

UPDATE:

Continuing to investigate two shootings in the area of Avalon Place in Kitchener and Hwy 85 in Waterloo.

Shots were fired from a grey Mercedes-Benz AMG E 63.

Call police at 519-570-9777 ext. 8191 or @WaterlooCrime with information.

Details: https://t.co/tmZyxdFRxU. pic.twitter.com/sBJqFgxDjB

— Waterloo Regional Police (@WRPSToday) August 15, 2021