Drive by shooting in toronto kills two somali guys

[North brother]

Families try to cope with gun slayings of two young men Summer weekend began with a wedding and ended in death

HENRY STANCU AND PATRICK EVANS
STAFF REPORTERS

More than 1,000 people are expected at an Etobicoke mosque this morning to mourn the deaths of two young men killed early Monday and to pray for Toronto's gun violence to end.

Loyan Ahmed Gilao, 23, and Ali Mohamud Ali, 19, will be honoured in a 9 a.m. service at the Khalid Bin Al Waliid mosque on Bethridge Rd. near Kipling Ave.

Last night, throngs of people visited, telephoned and emailed the two friends' families in Etobicoke and Richmond Hill.

Mohamed Gilao, a prominent member of the Somali community in Toronto, described his son's death as "unbelievable" and the outpouring of condolences as "overwhelming."

"Every week, we had set aside one day to communicate as father and son, but lately Loyan has been busy; we didn't have that opportunity in the seven days before he died. That's the sad part," he said, weeping.

"My wife (Ayan Osman) is very strong for me and we are leaning on each other."

Gilao, a third-year York University commerce student, and Ali were celebrating with a group of friends Sunday, the day after serving in the wedding party at a friend's marriage.

The two were gunned down after a night out at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Sherbourne St. They were with a group of six to seven men, standing at the corner of Homewood Ave. and Maitland Place after leaving the nightclub.

A man walked toward them on Homewood and, without any words, pulled out a handgun and fired several times toward the group, police said.

Ali died from a gunshot wound to the head and Gilao died from a gunshot wound to the chest, an autopsy showed yesterday.

Gilao had been planning to announce his engagement to his girlfriend Zainab Ali in the coming months.

The elder Gilao, who has travelled several times on peace missions to his homeland, is a respected figure in both the Somali community and across Greater Toronto.

He was praised as a major "touchstone" in a community that transcends culture, religion and politics. Friends said the elder Gilao was given the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award two years ago and honoured with a YMCA Peace Medallion for helping people in his adopted community and homeland.

The couple, who immigrated to Canada from Somalia in 1990, have four daughters, 8 to 20.

In Richmond Hill, Ali's grieving family received relatives and friends at their house. Ali's uncle, Ahmed Jama, said that since Monday as many as 500 people had come to pay their respects.

About two dozen mourners stood outside the home last night, talking in small groups and keeping a quiet watch on Ali's father, mother and three sisters. Visitors pulled up in a steady stream of cars. Neighbours came on foot.

Ali's father, Mahamud Jama, said his son moved to Vancouver eight months ago to chase his dreams. He said Ali dreamed big, with all the energy and optimism of a 19-year-old man who had just begun to make his way in the world.

"He had a lot of ambitions," Jama said. "He was planning to open a business, his own trucking company. He would say, `Dad, this is what I'm planning. I know I need to work hard.'"

Jama said Ali came back two weeks ago for the wedding.

He made a full vacation out of his Toronto visit, arriving just in time for Caribana two weekends ago, spending time with his family and attending the wedding on Friday. Jama said Ali's holiday was almost over when he was killed. "He had a rental car due Monday."

Jama said his son wasn't involved in any gang or criminal activity. "My kid has never been with any gang," he said. "He was not violent. He had no record with the police."

The gun violence in Toronto has cost Jama his only son, and he's furious about it.

"Get rid of the thugs who are killing innocents," he said. "We are grieving now. Every day another family is grieving. The city has to clear this sort of thing up. We have to get rid of these guns."

Ali was born 19 years ago in Hargeisa, Somalia. His family came to Canada when he was 2.

Police are seeking a man in his 20s, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet and 150 to 160 pounds, with black braids and a goatee. He was wearing jeans, a black T-shirt and a blue do-rag.


Source: Toronto Star, Aug 11, 2005

was this a somali on somali violence or other races against somalis.

Do any of you know them, allah ha u naxaristo.