The man who shot and killed five people in a suburban Toronto condominium Sunday evening had spent years harassing his neighbors and threatening the building’s condo board over the belief that the building’s electrical room he was sick
At a news conference Monday, York Region Police Chief James MacSween identified the gunman in Sunday night’s attack in the town of Vaughn as Francesco Velli.
Police said the 73-year-old resident of the building shot and killed three men and two women and wounded a 66-year-old man, who was hospitalized.
Villi had been locked in a year-long legal battle with his neighbors in the building, and was alleged to have harassed them.
“Three victims were board members of the condominium,” MacSween said. “Obviously, this will be thoroughly investigated,” adding that it was “difficult to say” whether Villi had targeted the victims.
Videos on Villi’s Facebook page, including one posted on the day of the shooting, chronicled his frustration with the building’s management and other residents, and included frequent and unsubstantiated claims that the building’s electrical room I was getting sick.
Villi’s obsessions were well known to the residents of the building.
John Santoro, who previously served on the condo board, told reporters Villi was “not a freak” and believed the elderly man needed “professional” help.
“I mentioned it to my wife several times [that] it will end very badly,” he said.
Villi had lost several previous legal battles with the condo board, which in 2019 filed a restraining order against him in response to his harassment of other residents. A court also banned him from posting on social media.
Last year he was declared on bail in court for continuing to harass residents, while also continuing to post on Facebook.
In recent months, the company that owns the building had asked a court to imprison Villi and force him to sell his unit as “penalty” for his contempt of the previous court ruling.
In a post on Sunday, Villi called them “murderers” for the legal action against him.
Police arrived at the building at around 7.20pm and shortly after entering confronted Villi in a corridor. A police officer then shot him dead.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which investigates shootings with police, said officers found the victims on different floors. Spokeswoman Kristy Denette said Villi had a semi-automatic handgun and that investigators do not believe he fired at the officer who killed him. The SIU could not confirm whether the gun was legally registered.
Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca called the shooting a “horrific act” and offered his condolences to the families affected.
“I know we all sincerely hope for a speedy recovery for the person who was injured, who we believe is on the mend,” he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the attack an act of “senseless violence” and said the province was grieving the victims.