Ontario Father Killed in Front of Family During Home Invasion: Officials

A York Regional Police patch is shown in Aurora, Ont., on Dec. 19, 2022. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

A husband and father of four was shot to death in his Vaughan, Ont., home over the long weekend while trying to protect his family during a violent home invasion.

Abdul Aleem Farooqi, 46, was killed during the early morning hours of Aug. 31 after several suspects broke into his home, York Regional Police said in a recent press release. He was pronounced dead at the scene, despite lifesaving efforts.

Police described the home invasion as “targeted” and said investigators are looking for “at least three suspects,” but they have disclosed few details about the incident. Police confirmed on Sept. 3 that the victim died of gunshot wounds.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford addressed the fatal home invasion during an unrelated Sept. 2 press conference, saying he has spoken with York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween about the investigation.

Ford said Farooqi was shot twice while attempting to protect one of his children.

“It’s heart-wrenching,” Ford said of the incident that took place just before 1 a.m. at 22 Andreeta Dr. in Vaughan, a city of about 330,000 just north of Toronto.

“This innocent man got his doors kicked in in the middle of the night, four people went in there — his kids are there, his wife — they had a gun to one of the kids, he went to protect them and these scumbags shot him right in front of his kids, shot him dead. Just imagine the trauma these kids are going to go through for the rest of their lives.”

Farooqi’s death comes just days after another man was killed in what police described as a targeted shooting at a “commercial premise” in Vaughan, in the area of Langstaff Road and Jane Street.

The victim, 41-year-old Deuvane Donald Francis of Toronto, was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday, Aug. 27, as a result of gunshot wounds.

Police say a white, four-door 2016 Honda Civic was observed fleeing the scene on Aug. 26, at approximately 12:22 p.m., and has since been recovered by investigators.

Investigators are requesting assistance from the public in both shootings and are asking individuals with information about either incident to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Victim Remembered

Ontario’s Energy Minister Stephen Lecce posted a picture of himself and Farooqi, whom he described as a friend, on his social media accounts on Sept. 2. Lecce said he last saw Farooqi three weeks ago, when the Vaughan businessman and his son attended a community barbecue hosted by Lecce.

He described Farooqi’s death as an “unimaginable tragedy for his family and for the entire community.”

“He was a loving father, family man, and generous community leader with a big heart,” Lecce added. “His memory and bravery will not be forgotten.”

Farooqi was described by his cousin Sahar Farooqi as “an honourable, kind, devout and caring family man” who died as a hero defending his wife and children who are now enduring “the trauma of a grief which is extreme and senseless.”

“He has also been taken from his elderly parents, three siblings and a community that loved him,” Sahar Farooqi said in a LinkedIn post. “In time, I assure and am assured, that there will be a determined, dignified and unflinching pursuit of justice for Aleem and his family.”

An impromptu Sept. 1 vigil held in memory of Farooqi was attended by hundreds of people near his home.

The evening vigil was attended by King-Vaughan MP Anna Roberts and Vaughan-Woodbridge MP Michael Guglielmin. Both Tory MPs called for the elimination of “illegal guns”  from the streets and swift action to combat violent crime in separate Facebook posts.

Funeral prayers are being held for Farooqi today at the Baitul Islam Mosque in Maple, Ont., and he will be laid to rest on Sept. 4 in Nashville Cemetery in Vaughan, according to his obituary.

Calls for Legislative Changes

Several politicians have spoken out since Farooqi’s death, calling on Ottawa to crack down on violent crime.

Ford said he spoke with federal officials over the weekend about the incident to repeat previous criticisms he has made about Canada’s justice system.

“Every single day, innocent people are getting their doors kicked in by a bunch of thugs, a bunch of murderers, criminals, and you go to the root cause, it is the weak Criminal Code that needs to be changed by the federal government,” Ford told reporters at the press conference.

“We are sick and tired of these thugs getting out on bail. Watch, when they catch these guys, I almost guarantee you, they’d been out on bail for another heinous crime. … It is absolutely sickening that Canada and Ontario is in this position. It is worse than the U.S. cities.”

The Epoch Times contacted the Department of Justice for comment on the recent home invasions and calls for stricter laws but did not receive a response before publication.

The Liberal government has said it plans to present new legislation this fall aimed at enforcing stricter bail conditions in response to escalating crime. The Liberals promised during the election campaign that bail conditions would be strengthened for those involved in offences such as car thefts involving violence, and home invasions.

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievere has urged Ottawa to make changes to the Criminal Code and he repeated that call in a social media post addressing the Vaughan home invasion, noting that it was the “second homicide in a matter of days in the area.”

“Heartbroken to hear of the violent home invasion and murder in Vaughan this weekend,” Poilievre said. “The crime wave that has swept our country must end with strong laws that crack down on criminals and stop the violence in our communities. We must bring back safety for our families and our communities in Canada.”

Lecce and fellow Ontario cabinet minister Prabmeet Sarkaria also called for tougher sentencing laws via social media. Transportation Minister Sarkaria called the incident “heartbreaking and enraging.”

“When criminals have no fear and home invasions are becoming more common, we need to make sure people have the legal protection to fight back,” he wrote. “We need tougher sentencing and real consequences for violent offenders. Our families deserve to feel safe.”

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca said in a social media post that he has spoken with family members and friends of Farooqi since the incident.

“My heart breaks for what they have all been forced to endure since his murder,” Del Duca said in a statement posted on X. “The deplorable criminals who killed this man, in front of his wife and kids in their own home, need to be captured and face swift and harsh punishment.”

Toronto Area Crime

There have been five murders in the York region since the beginning of the year, according to police statistics. Three homicides were committed in Vaughan as well as one in Markham and one in King.

Toronto Police Service data shows there have been 27 homicides in Ontario’s capital city since January, and 188 shootings that killed 15 and left 75 injured. The police service does not have statistics available for other violent crimes like home invasions or carjackings.

During the Sept. 2 press conference, Ford called for increased homeowners’ rights to defend themselves with force when criminals break into their homes, and he also criticized current laws that have seen some Canadians charged with assault for fighting back.

Ford has previously expressed support for a Lindsay, Ont., man who was charged last month with aggravated assault after allegedly confronting and severely injuring an intruder who police say had broken into his home during the night.

Unlike the United States, Canada’s justice system does not recognize the Castle Doctrine, a legal principle permitting the use of force, including lethal force, to protect one’s home and its inhabitants against an unlawful and imminent danger.

Canadian self-defence law takes a more moderate approach. Section 34 of the Criminal Code, on “Defence of Person,” says individuals may take reasonable action when necessary to prevent harm or imminent threats to themselves or others. Section 35, on “Defence of Property,” allows individuals to take reasonable action to defend their property when someone tries to break in or steal their belongings. However, these laws have specific limits.

Ford said these laws need to change. Poilievre has also asked for changes to the Criminal Code to allow Canadians to defend themselves in their own homes without fear of legal reprisal.

Poilievre said last month his party will table a private member’s bill to change the law if the Liberal government does not amend the Criminal Code.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser said “Canadians already have the right to defend themselves,” noting that he trusts “police to lay charges and judges to consider evidence” in such cases.