OPP search for suspect considered ‘armed and dangerous’ who shot at several vehicles on Hwy. 401

Provincial police are searching for a 29-year-old man “considered armed and dangerous” after he allegedly shot at several vehicles on Highway 401 in Peel Region on Tuesday.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were first called to the area just before 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, they received numerous 911 calls reporting that a male was seen shooting at passing vehicles on Highway 401, near Dixie Road, in Mississauga. Police say he shot at possibly up to 10 vehicles.

The individual then allegedly stole a vehicle from a motorist near Highway 401 and Highway 410 and fled the area.

The vehicle was located a short time later abandoned on Fasken Drive in Etobicoke.

OPP have issued an arrest warrant for Troy Ledrew. He’s described as a Black male, 25-35 years old, approximately five feet 10 inches tall, with long braided hair (to the middle of his back). He was last seen wearing jeans, a blue/grey T-shirt, white and black running shoes, and a satchel on his shoulder.

“The public is advised not to approach the suspect and call 911 immediately if seen,” police said in a release.

Paramedics say two men were assessed at the scene for minor injuries they received from an “assault” following the crash. No serious injuries were reported.

Police say the motive for the shooting is not yet known and it’s unclear if the incident was random or targeted.

Dashcam footage shows man walking on highway

A man who captured dashcam footage of the alleged suspect said he was driving on the highway when he saw emergency lights ahead and started to merge into the next lane.

“I attempted to merge over. When I merged over, I witnessed a gentleman, or a guy, distraught, run across four lanes and turn around. By that time, I was already in the collector’s lane. I turned around, looked at me, pointed the gun at me,” he said.

“The fight or flight kicked in as fast as possible once I saw that gun pointed at me. I immediately tried to get myself out of the line of fire from the firearm and just get out of harm’s way.”

Another driver who was passing through the area told 680 NewsRadio he saw bullet holes in one of the vehicles involved in the area where police are investigating.

At one point, the OPP closed the northbound Highway 427 ramp to Fasken Drive near Pearson International Airport, the Highway 410 southbound ramp, and the Highway 403 eastbound ramp to the eastbound 401. These areas have now reopened.

The Highway 401 eastbound collector lanes between Highway 410 and Dixie Road and surrounding highways were closed again on Tuesday evening for at least two hours, but OPP did not give a reason for the closure.