Following a dramatic downtown ambush that at least one witness mistook for a movie taping, Toronto police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection to the targeted attack in Little Italy earlier this week.

Det. Sgt. Terry Browne said the individual became a suspect “probably the moment” the crime was committed.

Speaking to reporters at 51 Division Thursday night, Browne said he was limited in what he could say as the investigation is ongoing.

Browne did note that Wiwchar was carrying documentation for another identity as well as his own.

The detective also said the Little Italy shooter appeared to be wearing a blonde wig at the time of the attack.

Browne would not say where Wiwchar was going, where he was coming from or how police knew he was in the cab. The RCMP and York Regional Police assisted with the investigation.

David Barmherzig, who owns Fashion Warehouse in Cabbagetown, was sitting near his shop window Thursday afternoon when well over a dozen police cruisers descended on the intersection.

With their guns drawn, about eight uniformed and plainclothes officers clad in bulletproof vests surrounded the vehicle, said Barmherzig.

“They pulled him out before he even knew what was happening. The cab driver too. I felt sorry for him. They threw him down and handcuffed him. The first guy was taken away immediately in a car. They kept the cab driver. After about five minutes they took off the cuffs and gave him some water,” said Barmherzig.

Kabir Hossain, owner of the local Dollar 4U, said the man taken from the back of the car was white and about 6-feet tall. He didn’t struggle during the arrest, said Hossain.

“It was silent, there were no sirens. They came so quick and then dragged him from the van,” said Hossain.

King Tewand, who works at the local pharmacy, thought a movie crew must be filming.

“I didn’t even really bother to watch. I thought it was a movie filming … there were so many police,” he said.

The taxi belongs to a company called Today’s, which services the Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Aurora and Stouffville area. A company representative reached Thursday night said the driver did not want to speak to media.

“He’s not saying anything. He has family,” said the individual.

The arrest came just three days after a masked gunman dressed like a construction worker opened fire on a crowded patio in Little Italy, fatally striking Raposo in the head and hitting an unidentified innocent bystander in the stomach.

Thousands of people were on College St. at the time to watch Italy take on Ireland in the Euro Cup. Witnesses said adults were picking up children “like footballs” as they scrambled to escape.

Raposo — nicknamed Johnny Maserati as a nod to his love of luxury cars — lived with his pregnant wife and young child just around the corner from the Sicilian Sidewalk Café.

While police were making their arrest, Raposo’s family and friends gathered at a funeral home on Bathurst St. for a visitation. His funeral will be held on Friday.

As news spread around the neighbourhood that police had made an arrest, locals said they were relieved but not surprised given the number of witnesses and area security cameras.

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I knew “no matter what, they’ll get him,” said Sal Alves, who’s a regular customer at Touché Martini Bar & Champagne Lounge.

A note on the front door of Sicilian Ice Cream said the café would be closed until further notice due to the ongoing police investigation.

With files from Anita Li and Graham Slaughter