The Toronto rapper who was slain last week in a targeted attack had a string of criminal convictions, including for trafficking cocaine.

Shmar Parris, who was known as Murda Marz, was shot to death on Friday when gunfire broke out on the edge of Ryerson's campus, continuing for a kilometre as an SUV chased him until his car crashed into a pole. His two passengers sustained minor injuries.

Investigators say Mr. Parris, 25, was targeted, noting he lived a high-risk, criminal lifestyle.

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Ontario court records made available on Tuesday show Mr. Parris, who came to Toronto from the North Preston area near Halifax, has had brushes with the law since he was a teenager.

In 2011, a judge sentenced Mr. Parris to six months in prison after he was convicted of trafficking cocaine and possessing the proceeds of crime arising from an incident in 2007. The judge found him not guilty of three firearms offences; the Crown withdrew several other charges.

In 2010, Mr. Parris pleaded guilty to defrauding someone of $2,200 and assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest, receiving a sentence of 15 months' probation.

In 2008, he was sentenced to a few days in jail for failing to comply with a bail condition to live with his sister.

With a file from Dakshana Bascaramurty