Humber accounting student Hashim Omar Hashi will never be able to launch his career. His future was snatched from him by a bullet.
The 20-year-old was gunned down while trying to drive his car into the underground parking lot of a Falstaff Avenue apartment building, in the Jane Street-Highway 401 area on Jan. 31.
The college granted his Bachelor’s of Commerce, Accounting credentials to his family on Feb. 16.
“The diversity of the Humber community is one of our greatest strengths. Humber condemns all acts of violence, and we stand in solidarity with our community during this difficult time,” said Humber President Chris Whitaker in a statement.
Whitaker shared his condolences to Hashi’s family and friends and after posting the statement to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, hundreds of messages from Humber and Humber-Guelph students shared condolences to Hashi’s family.
Toronto Police reported Hashi was pulling into the apartment parking garage at 40 Falstaff Rd. when he was apparently ambushed.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. Police later found the vehicle the suspects fled in abandoned at Earl Bales Park, in the Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue area, engulfed in flames.
Emmanuel Missah, 24, of Toronto, was arrested Feb. 12 and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and failure to comply with recognizance.
The following day, Hassan Ali, 22, of Toronto, known as controversial rapper Top5, was arrested in Windsor and was charged with accessory after the fact to murder, two counts of failing to comply with probation, possessing property obtained by crime worth more than $5,000 and one count each of possessing of cocaine, fentanyl and oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking.
Humber community was deeply affected by the abrupt and senseless passing of Hashi, Whittaker said.
“As a community, we are hurting,” he said.
Hashi was described as having a beautiful smile, being hardworking, and humble and kind. The second-year student was a brother, son, cousin, nephew and friend, who held a part-time job at Pearson Airport while being a full-time student.
“He was a kind, gentle soul that lit up every room he entered,” a family spokesperson wrote on a Gofundme campaign in his memory. “In honour of Hashim’s memory, we will be building a well and feeding the poor in his name.
“We have lost many of our youth in this city, and unfortunately, today, it was one of our own,” the friend wrote. “We pray that no other family suffers a tragedy like this, and we pray Hashim will get the justice he deserves in this world.”
Toronto homicide Det.-Sgt. Ted Lioumanis said Hashi was not affiliated or involved in gang activity.
“Mr. Hashi was a student studying accounting and worked part-time at the airport. He had a promising future, and he was a very well-respected young man,” Lioumanis at a news conference on Feb.13.
Toronto is mired by a spike in gun violence, and despite being in a global pandemic, the numbers are not going down. Toronto Police report from 2019, there were 492 shootings in Toronto with 240 injured people, and 44 people died. There were 191 shootings in 2004.
York South-Weston city councillor Frances Nunziata said she is working with community members and Falstaff tenants to increase safety measures like security cameras.
“The gun violence that we have in this city is sickening, and another life has been lost. We need to work together with the community and the police to try and stop the gun violence that we have in this community,” Nunziata said at a news conference.
Police are asking anyone with information or dashboard video of the incident or suspect vehicle to contact them at (416) 222-8477.