Ontario father, 46, shot dead in front of kids during home invasion: 'He went to go protect them'
A 46-year-old father killed in Vaughan, Ont., was shot dead in front of his wife and children after he tried to protect them during a home invasion Sunday morning.
“This innocent man got his doors kicked in in the middle of the night, four people went in there — his three kids are there, his wife — had a gun to one of the kids, he went to protect them and these scumbags shot him right in front of his kids, shot him dead, twice,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
“Just imagine the trauma these kids are gonna go through for the rest of their lives.”
The incident took place at a home in a new subdivision in the city’s Kleinburg area just before 1 a.m., according to York Regional Police , who identified the victim as Abdul Aleem Farooqi. At least three masked suspects in dark clothing entered the home at 22 Andreeta Dr. in what police consider a “targeted incident.”
Outside the home after police arrived, a neighbour saw a woman “fall to the ground” in tears after speaking with officers and heard a teenage boy repeating the words “My dad,” according to the Toronto Star. The neighbour said the family would bring “chocolate and gifts” to nearby homes around the holidays.
“These victims are absolutely true victims,” Ron Chhinzer, a federal Conservative candidate in Oakville in the spring election and a former Toronto police officer, posted on X over the weekend.
Nothing else to say, but everything to demand action for. https://t.co/orKgRVj9Qi pic.twitter.com/woJJ0rgIgo
— Ron Chhinzer (@RealRonChhinzer) September 1, 2025
Prabmeet Sarkaria, who represents Brampton South in the Ontario legislature, called it “heartbreaking and enraging.” On X, he wrote , “No parent should ever have to face the nightmare of someone pointing a gun at their child in their own home.”
King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce said on X that he had met Farooqi and “will remember him as a good family and a hardworking business leader.”
The Toronto Sun identifies Farooqi as the owner of Unique Providers Air Duct Cleaning, a business operating in the Toronto area. He is featured in a handful of YouTube videos published on the company’s channel six years ago.
Chhinzer was joined in condemning Farooqi’s death by Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre, who said he was “heartbroken” to hear of a “second homicide in a matter of days in the area.” On Wednesday afternoon, 41-year-old Deuvane Donald Francis died from gunshot wounds suffered at a Vaughan commercial business.
“The crime wave that has swept our country must end with strong laws that crack down on criminals and stop the violence in our communities,” Poilievre posted on X.
This is an unimaginable nightmare for the family and for all the neighbours. My deepest condolences to the Farooqi family.
— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) September 1, 2025
I met Abdul over the past years, and will remember him as a good family man and a hardworking business leader.
We hear of too many cases of families… pic.twitter.com/NTqu51pwEu
Lecce and Sarkaria called for harsher punishments for violent crimes as one step toward eliminating similar incidents and improving public safety.
“This is an unimaginable nightmare for the family and for all the neighbours … The message should be clear to any offender: if you commit a violent crime, then you will face serious jail time,” Lecce said, urging the reinstatement of federal mandatory minimum sentences.
Ford took it further in his Tuesday press conference, promising “to be all over the federal government” on bail reform and strengthening the criminal code with respect to mandatory sentences.
“These weak-kneed judges let these people out on bail, not once, not twice, not three times, four and five times, just to go repeat the crime,” Ford said. “There’s no consequences at all for these people.
“ Watch, when they catch these guys, I almost guarantee you they’ve been out on bail for another heinous crime.”
Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca expressed his condolences online and said the city remains a safe place, but noted it needs Ottawa’s help to keep it that way.
“We need immediate and urgent action from the federal government to fix our broken bail system and protect our residents,” he wrote in a statement.
A vigil for Farooqi held Sunday night was attended by Conservative MPs Anna Roberts (King-Vaughan) and Michael Guglielmin (Vaughan-Woodbridge). In separate Facebook posts, both called for removing “illegal guns” from the streets and quick action to curb violent crime.
Witnesses who’ve not yet spoken to police are encouraged to come forward, as is anyone with security video from the area.
National Post has contacted York Regional Police for confirmation of other home occupants at the time of the incident and an update on their investigation.
This evening, I joined the Farooqi family and the Kleinburg community in a heartbreaking vigil to remember Abdul Aleem...
Posted by Anna Roberts MP on Monday, September 1, 2025
We grieve together, looking toward a world where our communities no longer bear the weight of violence. Tonight, I...
Posted by Michael Guglielmin on Monday, September 1, 2025
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.