‘Very traumatized’: Arrest made in case of Toronto senior shot in the face with pellet gun

Toronto police say they have made an arrest in the case of a woman who was shot in the face with a pellet gun in the city’s east end.

On Feb. 28, police said a 76-year-old woman was walking in the Hupfield Trail and McLevin Avenue area when she was approached from behind by a man.

“[She] was out for her daily walk, was approached by an unknown person at that time and shot several times with a BB gun in the hands and face,”  Insp. Michael Williams told reporters in an update on Friday.

The woman suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries to her face and hands.

Williams said she was wearing glasses and that one of the shots did break her glasses. “The glasses could very well have protected her,” Williams said.

She is now recovering at home, Williams said.

“Quite obviously, she is very traumatized. And is actually concerned to walk back on the street again,” Williams said.

A 27-year-old man, Umer Saad, was arrested on Thursday night a short distance away from where the incident happened.

Investigators told Global News they were able to track down the man through video canvassing in the area.

Saad is facing several charges including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, weapons dangerous, disguise with intent and breaching a court order. Williams would not elaborate what Saad was under a court order for.

A pellet gun was also seized by officers during a search, Williams said. He added that the man also lived in the neighbourhood not far from where the assault took place.

Williams said investigators are still working on a motive for the incident but said at this time “it does appear to be random.”

“Which again, is even more concerning, that when random things happen that are not targeted,” Williams said, “that’s definitely something of concern for people in the community.”

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