Police in York Region are investigating a slew of shootings over the last four months – targeting homes and businesses across the area.

Authorities say between September to January, nine instances have taken place.

“We’ve had nine incidents right across York Region where shots have been fired,” Const. Andy Pattenden explained. “In all nine of those incidents, very thankfully, luckily, no one’s been injured as a result. However these are shocking incidents.”

Police say they are investigating the possibility that one or more of the shootings may be connected.

“In all these cases there were multiple shots fired – whether it’s five, 10, 15, into a mix of residences as well as commercial buildings,” said Pattenden. “It’s a trend that we’re seeing. A very disturbing trend.”

As well, in each case a similar suspect description has been given and the gunman has fled in the direction of a nearby vehicle.

The most recent incident happened on Monday in Markham.

Police said shots were fired into a home in the Warden and Steeles avenue area around 10:30 p.m.

Surveillance video from the house shows a vehicle pull up to the end of the driveway and a person, dressed in a hooded coat, running up to the home and shooting multiple times in the direction of the front door.

“We do believe there was 10 shots, at least 10 shots, fired into this residence,” Const. Andy Pattenden said.

Pattenden said the most shocking thing about the incident is how “brazen” it is.

“The person, very casually, just walks up, starts firing his weapon,” he said. “This person doesn’t know who’s in the house. Turns out there were nine people in the house. Two being children, seven being adults. Any one of them could have been hit by a bullet, injured or killed.”

The suspect then runs back to the waiting car and jumps into the passenger seat before the vehicle drives away.

Police said they don’t believe this shooting was a random act.

“We do believe this house was a target for this. But that doesn’t excuse it,” said Pattenden. “The neighbouring people have nothing to do with what’s going on.”

Five days before the shooting, security camera footage captured two people entering the front vestibule of the home. One of the two men repeatedly rings the door bell and knocks on the door before attempting to talk to the person on the other side of the closed door.

Police say they would like to speak with these two men – who are being considered persons of interest at this time.

“The homeowners don’t know who these people are and because it happened just days prior to the shooting incident, we’re trying to figure out who these people are as well,” said Pattenden. “We’re hoping by putting this image out, this video out, someone is going to recognize who these people are.”

On Jan. 5, shots were fired at a home in Newmarket.

Scott Nimmo, who lives in the basement of the home, was playing video games at the time and heard the shots.

“All of a sudden I just heard pop pop pop pop pop,” he said. “It sounded like fireworks at first but I know the sound of gunfire so I basically called 911.”

Nimmo said 11 shots were fired but only five bullets hit the home – several in the front door a one through the kitchen window.

Looking at the damage, Nimmo said his first thoughts are with his children and the children in the neighbourhood.

“(It was) 9:30 at night, somebody could have just been walking home, or even a young man walking his girlfriend home … (they) could have got shot and that’s terrible,” he said. “It’s not something in York Region that we’re used to … there’s a lot of good people in this neighbourhood and this is not what we want here.”

In December, three similar shootings happened, one of which was at a home in Vaughan where a man was allegedly approached by a stranger who shot at him but missed. The suspect then fled the scene toward a dark-coloured sedan.

A business on Woodbine Avenue in Markham was also shot at several times on Dec. 29.

Several bullet holes are seen at a business in Markham after a shooting in December, CITYNEWS/Amanda Ferguson

According to police, another shooting happened on Nov. 18 at a home in Aurora. In that instance, the suspect was seen fleeing the area toward a dark-coloured mini-van.

Three shootings also took place in September.

Police won’t comment on if the incidents are gang related but say they are investigating the possibility.

“Our investigators, in all these instances, have let us know that they don’t believe these are random incidents,” Pattenden explained. “They believe these are targeted locations and they’re trying to send messages.”

Police would like anyone with any information on the shootings to come forward.