

Chris Fox, CP24.com





The victim in a brazen shooting in Yorkville on Wednesday night has been identified as an 18-year-old Toronto man.

Gabriel Nikov was fatally shot in front of two coffee shops on Yonge Street just north of Bloor Street shortly after 8 p.m.

A motive for the shooting has not been released, though a woman did tell CP24 that the shooting occurred after the victim got into an altercation with a group on the street.

Police have said they are searching for three suspects in connection to the shooting.

According to a spokesperson with the Toronto District School Board, Nikov was a student at Central Toronto Academy.

In a letter that was sent to parents on Tuesday, Principal Iwona Kurman said Nikov’s death has hit the school hard.

“This has been a sombre day for our school community as we mourn the sudden and tragic loss of this young life. I know that you will join with all of us in expressing our deepest condolences to grieving family and friends,” she wrote. “Some students are understandably upset. Be assured that we will do all that we can to help them.”

TDSB staff will be on hand at Central Toronto Academy today and on Monday in order to offer support and counselling to students and staff.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact police at (416) 808-5300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS (8477).