A Milton, Ont. A man charged with second-degree murder following a shooting at his home over the weekend has defended himself, his attorney said Tuesday after his client’s first court appearance.
Ali Mian’s lawyer, Jag Virk, told reporters outside the courthouse on Tuesday that the 22-year-old was innocent. Virk said he will argue that his client acted in self-defense.
“It was a home invasion, intruders in his home, armed, dangerous, and he was protecting himself and his mother,” he said.
The shooting happened around 5 a.m. Sunday at a home on Gibson Crescent near Ontario Street South and Louis St. Laurent Avenue in Milton, according to the Halton Regional Police Service.
Police have not released the identity of the man who was killed in the shooting. He was found dead at the scene, police said.
In an email to CBC News, Virk said it wasn’t a targeted shooting:
“[Mian] is a registered gun owner and used his gun legally against an armed intruder,” he wrote.
“He should not be charged with murder for protecting his mother from someone who broke into his home,” the email reads.
“His intention was not to kill the intruder, he just shot him once.
Police said another 20-year-old Oshawa man was arrested at the scene and charged with burglary and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
In a press release Monday, police said witnesses told them a group of suspects approached the home early Sunday. Police believe they intended to commit a robbery.
“Upon entering the residence, they were confronted by a resident and several shots were fired inside the house. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were arrested when police arrived,” the press release said.
Police said they are still looking for three other suspects who are believed to have fled the scene in a white vehicle.
Police have released a photo of the suspected getaway vehicle, which is believed to be a light-colored Dodge Charger with a sunroof and black wheels.
Samir Shafique, a resident who lives nearby and has lived in the neighborhood for about six years, said the shooting woke him up. At first he said he thought someone had smashed a window or broken into his house.
“There was something like one two, one two – four shots that we heard,” he said.
Shafique said when he looked outside he saw five cars in front of the house. He said it’s usually four. He said he is friends with the family and Mian is a high school student. They share food and shovel each other’s way, he said.
“I said that’s something unusual,” he said.
Police cars gradually arrived, and at 5:09 a.m., the police ushered Mian out of the house, he said.
“They grabbed him. They arrested him.”
Then Shafique said he learned that one person had been shot.
“This is very unexpected and also tragic,” he said. “For me it’s still tragic for both sides. Life is precious, everyone’s life.”
He said he knew there appeared to have been another incident at the home about a week ago. He said he knew another neighbor had video of the incident, in which two young men in hooded sweatshirts and masks were seen roaming the backyard.
The police were still there on Tuesday.
The front door of the house is badly damaged. A bullet hole can be seen in one of the rear windows.
