Police release new suspect images & licence plate in Vaughan cafe murders

York region police have released new security camera images of a suspect and the licence plate of a vehicle sought in connection with a quadruple shooting in Vaughan on Wednesday.

Police believe a lone shooter opened fire inside Moka Café near Highway 7 and Islington Avenue at around 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, killing two people.

Maria Voci, 47 and Christopher Desimone, 24, both of Vaughan, died at the scene.

On Friday, investigators released the licence plate of the 2011 black Nissan Versa, which they said was a stolen vehicle. The plate is identified as BVLW 273.

At a news conference on Thursday, Const. Andy Pattenden said police are looking for a dark-coloured compact car seen fleeing the scene south on Islington.

Pattenden said the suspect — who police describe as male, black, five-feet 10-inches to five-feet 11-inches tall, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and a mask covering his face — “entered the cafe with a purpose.”

Police said one of the male victims is in stable condition, while the other male victim remains in critical condition, adding investigators won’t be releasing their names.

One of the injured people is reportedly Rocco Di Paolo, who ran as a fringe candidate in the Toronto mayoral election last year. He remains in critical condition.

Earlier on Thursday, police were canvassing the area on Islington, south of Highway 7, asking drivers if they recognized images of the vehicles sought in connection with the murder.

Police said they are only releasing a photo of the suspect car, not of a pickup truck shown earlier at scene being described as a “vehicle of interest.”