5 Charged in Tow-Truck Dispute Shooting That Killed 16-Year-Old Boy

(L–R) Mohammad Aburas, Ameen Nabout, Ameer Nabout, Sari Nawabit, and Rami Qasem are shown in a handout image provided by Hamilton Police Service. Hamilton Police Service photo

Five men have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in Hamilton, Ont., last year, police say.

At a press conference on April 10, Hamilton Police Service said Faizaan Awan, who was gunned down after a high-speed chase with several vehicles last March, was the victim of a “targeted attack” tied to a dispute between two tow-truck companies.

“This was not a random act. Our investigation has determined that this was a targeted attack involving multiple individuals and multiple firearms,” Det. Staff Sgt. Robert Di Ianni of the force’s homicide unit said.

Police said the five accused, affiliated with Provincial Tow, a now-defunct local tow-truck company, were arrested on April 9 after officers executed five separate search warrants in Hamilton and Ottawa.

Mohammad Aburas, 26, of Ottawa, and Ameer Nabout, 22, Ameen Nabout, 20, Rami Qasem, 42, and Sari Nawabit, 36, all of Hamilton—are also facing attempted murder charges in relation to two other passengers in Awan’s vehicle, one of whom was shot and survived.

In a March 7, 2025, news release, police said officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Highway 8 and Fruitland Road in Stoney Creek at about 4:20 a.m. on March 6, 2025.

The release said Awan, who was driving a red Acura, was travelling eastbound on Highway 8 while being pursued by multiple vehicles. During the chase, his car collided with a white Kia, ending the pursuit just east of Fruitland Road.

“Multiple gunshots were then fired at the Acura,” police said at the time, adding that several suspects fled the scene in cars and on foot. Awan was found shot multiple times and transported to hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries.

‘Complex Investigation’

Di Ianni told reporters at the April 10 press conference that Provincial Tow, which the five accused had ties to, had been a target of arson “a few days before” the car chase.

The detective said there were people gathered at the now-defunct towing business “to protect their property” before multiple vehicles started chasing Awan’s Acura on March 6, 2025.

“We believe Faizaan Awan was at 928 Queenston [Road], that’s where this chase started,” he said. “Faizaan was there and he was chased all the way to Fruitland Road.”

Di Ianni declined to say why Awan was at the location that day or name the other tow-truck company involved in the dispute. He said police don’t think the suspects knew Awan was the person in the car or that they knew him beforehand.

In addition, Di Ianni said investigators believe there was an exchange of gunfire between the victims and suspects though no weapon was found in the Acura.

“This has been a complex investigation that required the execution of multiple search warrants in both Hamilton and Ottawa,” the detective said. “From the start of the investigation, we have spoken to witnesses, collected physical evidence, analyzed video and digital evidence.”

Several police services in Ontario have taken part in the investigation, including the Niagara Regional Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Brockville Police Service, Barrie Police Service, and Ottawa Police Service.

Di Ianni said police believe there are more suspects involved “either at the scene or after the fact.” At least five vehicles—including a tow truck—were linked to the chase.

“We’ve recovered three different calibers of firearms,” the detective said, adding that the police have not yet determined which caliber killed Awan.