Vaughan caf shooting that killed 2 likely not random, police say

As police continue to search for a gunman who opened fire at a Vaughan, Ont. caf, it remains unknown what drove him to kill a hard-working mother and a young man.

York Regional Police released a security camera image of the man, whose hood is pulled over his head, captured moments beforeWednesday morning's shooting, which left two dead and two wounded.

• MariaVociand Christopher deSimonedead in Vaughancafshooting

Police describe the suspect as ablack male,between five feet 10 inches and five feet 11 inches tall. Investigators say he coveredhis face with a mask during the attack.

He then fled south from the strip mall, on Islington Avenue near Highway 7,in a dark-coloured compact car.

The shootingdoes not appear to be random, police said, but they haven't suggested who the target of the shooting was.

"We have no information to believe that this was a random person that approached thecafand started shooting," York Regional PoliceConst. Andy Pattendensaid.

Christopher deSimone, 24, a regularcafpatron,and MariaVoci, who worked at the eatery, werekilled.

Rocco Di Paolo, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Toronto in 2014 and runs an insurance business, was one of the two people woundedin Wednesday's shooting.A caregiver at his home told CBC News Di Paolo remains in hospital in critical condition on Thursday.

The fourth shooting victim has not been identified, but is said to be in stable condition in hospital.

The deadly shooting has left those whoknew Voci and de Simonein shock.

"She was a wonderful mother so giving. I just saw those three boys. I just can't even begin to think how they feel," Soparker said.

"She loved those boys," a tearfulCastorosaid.

"Idon't know why someone would go in there and start shooting at people. To take someone else's life it's ridiculous."

A man employed by a neighbouring business described Voci as a hardworker who was there every morning. He said he's been in shock since her death.

Police canvassing area

Pattenden said police are combing through security footage from cameras mounted on the building, located in a strip mall. He urged residents to contact police with any information that may be related to the shooting.

Police are canvassing the area,have spoken to people atlocal businesses and aredoing road-side checks.

"Our investigators with our homicide unit are out at that scene again this morning [Thursday] conducting a roadside canvas, so they're basically stopping all the vehicles travelling in that area right now and talking to anyone that might have seen anything suspicious taking place in that plaza yesterday morning at this time, or any information on ...a suspect vehicle," said Pattenden.

The area has been subject to violence in recent years: there have been four shootings in the past couple of years, two of them related to organized crime.

Pattenden said the region is one of the safest in the country, despite Wednesday's violence.

"Asignificant amount of resources weredeployed immediately into area to make surethe area was safe," he added.