A 25-year-old man killed in a violent robbery Wednesday is being remembered as a talented artist and hard-working journalist. Zaher Noureddine, known to his friends as Zack, was assaulted by three men just south of Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. around 12:30 a.m. in what appears to have been a targeted robbery. He was rushed to hospital and died of his injuries later in the day. His brother, Russell, said in an online post he was notified of the attack early Wednesday morning. He drove from Ottawa to be with Zack at Sunnybrook Hospital. “To watch him lay on his deathbed was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Russell wrote on Twitter. “I will miss you so much and I know one day I’ll see you again. I love you buddy. Keep watching over me.”

In a lengthy tribute posted on HipHopCanada.com, Noureddine is described as a "contributor, artist and journalist."

“Our team is deeply saddened and struggling to come to terms with the news of the senseless loss of our friend and colleague, Zack Noureddine,” the statement says.

“Zack was an incredibly talented, honest and hard-working individual with huge aspirations. His recent move to Toronto was the next step in fulfilling his life goals and all signs indicated that he was loving every minute of it.”

The statement describes Noureddine’s work, which included interviewing Kendrick Lamar, as “nothing short of impressive.”

“He was a hip-hop head to the core and we’ll make sure his support for the scene is not forgotten.”

In a video posted online in April 2014, Noureddine talks about his love of photography, covering hip hop and his dream interviews.

“I’m an artist by nature, my trades are secondary,” he says, later vowing to work hard to inspire others to follow their own passions.

“Until that day comes, no breaks, no vacations.”

Toronto Police Det. Jeff Allington said he believes the suspects chose Noureddine for some reason, but couldn’t say why.

“I believe it was a very brazen robbery,” he said.

“I would certainly say he was targeted and the people who robbed him, chose him over any other number of people walking down the road.”

Police responded to a call about a fight involving the four men. Police say the trio of attackers fled the area in a light-coloured four-door sedan.

Police don’t believe Noureddine, who was with an unidentified number of people at the time, fought back against his assailants.

“I don’t believe the victim put up any resistance at all,” Allington said.

He said police believe the robbery is linked to an earlier assault at Hillsdale Ave. and Bayview Ave., which sent one man to hospital.

Investigators are seeking video footage from the area and have asked neighbours and business owners for help. They’ve also asked drivers with working dashboard cameras who passed through the area between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. to contact them.

Residents with security footage on Sudan Ave., Hillsdale Ave., Manor Rd. between Bayview Ave. and Yonge St., and Cleveland St. between Hillsdale Ave. and Eglinton Ave. should get in touch with police. Allington says footage may help police identify the suspects because they travelled from one attack to the other.

Allington said Noureddine worked in telecommunications and was originally from Ottawa. He’d lived in Toronto for several years.