Region’s top cop ‘confident’ killer soon to be caught

It’s been more than three weeks since police say a young man was murdered in a brazen shooting in downtown Kitchener but the region’s top cop says he is “confident” the killer will soon be caught.

Waterloo Regional Police (WRPS) continue to investigate after shots rang out shortly before 10:30 p.m. Aug. 13, outside a restaurant near the corner of Queen and Charles streets.

The victim, identified as 18-year-old Joshua Tarnue, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead in hospital. Police said he was shot in front of several potential eyewitnesses and cameras.

“We know there was upwards of a dozen people in and around the area that saw directly what happened or saw comings and goings of what happened,” said WRPS police chief Mark Crowell.

Speaking on The Mike Farwell Show on Tuesday, Crowell said police have since been combing through witness statements and “a ton” of video evidence for a clue as to the identity of who pulled the trigger.

“We have released images and video to the public, seeking to identify a male who was seen carrying out the homicide–we have it on video,” he said.

Crowell did, however, also reference some “frustrations” involved in getting a “fulsome depiction of events”, suggesting some witnesses may still be holding back.

“People know things they have not solidified with us yet,” he said, before adding he does hope that changes soon.

“We’re very confident that soon this will be resolved,” Crowell said. “Our investigators are doing everything they can to wrap it up, to solidify an arrest, and to make that public.”