Brampton home where boy was shot was targeted: police

BRAMPTON, Ont. – A nine-year-old boy watching TV in his Brampton home was fatally shot in the head by a single bullet that was fired through a window, Peel Regional Police said Thursday.

Kesean Williams, a Grade 4 student at Sir Winston Churchill Public School, was shot Wednesday night and died hours later of his injuries in hospital.

Police believe the house in Brampton was targeted.

“Evidence shows that the house was targeted,” said Chief Jennifer Evans.

“This was not a stray bullet,” she said. “My officers will work tirelessly in order to identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible for Kesean’s death.”

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Police do not know who the intended target might have been and are reviewing who the previous tenants of the house were.

According to police, Kesean, his 15-year-old brother and his mother moved to the Brampton area five months ago from Hamilton. But only moved in to that home last week.

“This is a tragedy for the family and the friends of young Kesean and for our entire community,” Evans said.

“Kesean was an innocent, young boy who was senselessly murdered in his own home.”

No arrests have been made yet. Police are canvassing the area, interviewing residents, and sifting through preliminary descriptions of people who were seen running from the area.

Police seized a cab at the site of the shooting and three people were being interviewed as witnesses, police said.

Police could not specify the exact location of where the shot was fired. No casings were found at the scene, police said.

Acting Supt. George Koekkoek said “physical evidence” suggested that the residence was targeted.

“What we’ve learned thus far leads us to believe that it was the house that was targeted,” he said.

“That said, it’s early on in the investigation and we’re trying to confirm that, so we’re open to other things as well, but that’s what we believe.”

“It’s totally unfathomable to think that, as I say, a young child sitting in his home, in the comfort of his own home, that something as tragic as this could happen,” he said.

Koekkoek said Kesean’s 15-year-old brother and mother are “obviously devastated by the tragedy.”

Down the street, the flag outside Sir Winston Churchill Public School flew at half-mast.

“I lost my friend last night,” one boy said. “We were best buddies because we played soccer and basketball together.”

“My heart is broken by this news,” Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell said in a statement.

“On behalf of the people of Brampton, I offer my sincerest condolences to the family, friends and classmates of Kesean.”

Members of the Peel District School Board’s critical incident response team have been sent to the school.

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