A late-night shooting in the parking lot of Burlington Centre mall has left a 24-year-old man dead, marking Burlington’s first homicide of the year and triggering an urgent search for two suspects believed to have fled the scene in a white SUV.
Halton Regional Police confirmed officers were called to the Burlington Centre plaza just after 10 p.m. Monday following reports of gunfire. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where the victim was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
The victim has been identified as Omer Niaz Muhammad, 24, of Burlington. He was transported to hospital but later pronounced dead, police said. Investigators described the shooting as targeted, though details surrounding the motive remain under investigation.
Police say two suspects fled the parking lot immediately after the shooting, leaving in a white SUV. Officers were seen canvassing the area through the night, while yellow police tape sealed off large sections of the mall’s exterior as forensic teams examined the scene.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Const. Jeff Dillon of Halton Regional Police said the shooting occurred outdoors and that there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the public. Still, residents were urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity connected to a white SUV seen leaving the area around the time of the incident.
The Burlington Centre, a busy commercial hub serving central Burlington, remained under heightened police presence as the investigation continued. Shoppers arriving Tuesday morning were met with patrol vehicles and officers guarding portions of the parking lot where the shooting occurred.
Authorities confirmed that Muhammad’s death is the first homicide recorded in Burlington so far this year, a detail that has intensified community concern and prompted renewed discussion around public safety in commercial spaces across the Greater Toronto Area.
While police have not released descriptions of the suspects, investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from the mall and nearby businesses. Officers are also appealing to witnesses who may have been in the area late Monday evening or who may have dashcam footage capturing the suspects’ vehicle.
The shooting adds to a growing list of fatal incidents in shopping plazas across southern Ontario in recent months, placing renewed pressure on law enforcement agencies to address gun violence in public spaces. Halton police emphasized that the investigation remains active and that further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Halton Regional Police or Crime Stoppers. Full details released by CBC News confirm investigators are continuing to track the suspects’ movements following the fatal shooting.
As Burlington mourns the loss of a young life, police presence around the mall remains visible — a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary spaces can become crime scenes, and how urgently communities are seeking answers.
