Durham police have identified 24-year-old Jahquar Stewart as the victim of a deadly shooting outside a north Oshawa townhouse early Tuesday morning.

Stewart, otherwise known as Bvlly, was a popular Toronto rap artist who had released his debut album “Made in Austria” in September.

Police received reports of a shooting just before 3 a.m. near Simcoe Street North and Britannia Avenue West on Tuesday. Police found Stewart dead outside of a house on Chevron Prince Path.

Residents of the new housing development were startled by a fusillade of gunshots.

Resident Amanda Alldread had just stepped outside for a cigarette when she heard the shots.

“I opened the door and heard pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop … there were about 10 shots,” she said. “I ducked back in because I was scared.”

Alldread said that after the shooting stopped she stepped back outside just in time to see a white vehicle with tinted windows speed by.

“It was a little bit scary,” she said. “I thought I lived in a good neighbourhood, but I guess things can happen anywhere.”

No arrests have been made. Durham police have not released suspect information.

Durham police Insp. Mitch Martin said the victim was found “right at the threshold of the house,” as police and paramedics arrived in response to 911 calls. Several shell casings were found on the ground at the shooting scene, he said.

Police are following up on witness reports of a car speeding away from the scene, Martin said.

“We have that information and we are actively investigating it,” he said. “We’re not sure if it’s a suspect vehicle or fleeing witnesses.”

As the sun came up early Tuesday, a young woman who was visibly distraught approached the scene and spoke to officers. She was later joined by a number of other young women, all of whom appeared to be reacting emotionally to the incident.

Martin said the victim was not a resident of the house where he died.

The incident is the seventh homicide in Durham in 2019, and the latest in a string of shooting incidents this year in the vicinity of Simcoe and Britannia.

Tuesday morning, residents on Chevron Prince Path emerged from their homes — some of them stepped onto balconies to watch the activity below — and navigated police vehicles, crime scene tape and a gaggle of reporters as they made their way to work.

“It’s surreal,” said Brianna Marek, who said she and partner Adam Tobias have been renting in the neighbourhood for the past few months.

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Marek said she was awakened by a cluster of shots in the early morning hours, then soon heard sirens as police and paramedics rushed to the scene.

“You just have to go on with your day, and hope those involved find peace,” Marek said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 905-579-1520, extension 5326 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_

Jeff Mitchell is a reporter for DurhamRegion.com. Reach him via email: jmitchell@durhamregion.com

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