The fatal shooting on the east side happened halfway to the house, CSC says

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) says it has opened an investigation after a 34-year-old Toronto woman was fatally shot at a halfway house on the city’s east side on Sunday.

The man charged with first-degree murder in the death of Alisha Brooks had been legally released from prison and was serving the final third of a three-year sentence for charges including assault, burglary and possession of a weapon in violation with a prohibition order. the federal agency says.

In an email Tuesday, CSC did not confirm that the 33-year-old suspect lived at the community housing facility — commonly known as a halfway house — but did say the shooting occurred at the home on Jones Avenue.

Half houses are typically facilities or housing where criminal offenders reside under supervision while they attempt to reintegrate into the community.

“While it is not common for an incident of this nature to occur in community housing, it is a serious and tragic incident and it is important that it is thoroughly reviewed to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding what happened,” a CSC spokesperson said.

“To this end, CSC has initiated an investigation and will not hesitate to take action, if deemed necessary, to further enhance public safety.”

Police were first called to the home just after 7 p.m. on Sunday. Responding officers found Brooks outside with gunshot wounds. She was taken to hospital, where she died a short time later.

According to the police, the suspect was arrested at the scene and a firearm was also found. Brooks and her alleged killer were known to each other, police added.

Statutory release, which is required by law, means that some federal offenders serve the final third of a fixed-term sentence while living in a community under the supervision of the CSC. The CSC spokesperson said statutory release is part of the agency’s efforts to “safely reintegrate” offenders.