{"id":72286,"date":"2025-07-18T09:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/72286\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T09:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:34:09","slug":"toronto-stabbing-71-year-old-victim-identified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/72286\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto stabbing: 71-year-old victim identified"},"content":{"rendered":"

Police have released images of the suspect in the ‘unprovoked’ fatal stabbing of a 71-year-old woman in a North York commercial plaza. <\/p>\n

A 71-year-old woman is dead in what Toronto police say was an \u201cunprovoked\u201d stabbing at a commercial plaza in North York Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

It happened just after 9:30 a.m. near Parkway Forest Drive and Sheppard Avenue East<\/a>, and police said the woman was grocery shopping in the area before the attack.<\/p>\n

\"\"North York stabbing Toronto police are investigating a stabbing at a commercial plaza in North York on July 17, 2025 that left a woman dead. <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what we can tell, she was simply just getting her groceries and going to her car when she was attacked; there was nothing to indicate that anything led up to (the stabbing),\u201d Duty Insp. Phil Sinclair told reporters at the scene.<\/p>\n

The woman was rushed to the hospital, where she died shortly after. <\/p>\n

Police have identified her as 71-year-old Shahnaz Pestonji. She is the city\u2019s 22nd homicide victim of the year.<\/p>\n

\"\"Shahnaz Pestonji, 71 Shahnaz Pestonji, 71, is Toronto’s 22nd homicide victim of the year. (Toronto Police Service handout) <\/p>\n

Police said the suspect fled the area on foot. Sinclair described the suspect as a Black male, who is five feet and 10 inches tall. <\/p>\n

He was wearing dark-coloured clothing and a balaclava at the time of the stabbing. <\/p>\n

In a news release on Thursday evening<\/a>, investigators published images of the suspect.<\/p>\n

\"\"Stabbing suspect The person in the photo is wanted in a fatal stabbing in North York on Thursday, July 17, 2025. (Toronto police handout) <\/p>\n

It\u2019s unknown if the suspect and victim are known to each other. Police say the incident was captured on surveillance video.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do understand this is a very deeply concerning incident. It happened during the daytime hours in a busy plaza, when many patrons were out simply just shopping, getting their groceries or different items in the plaza as well,\u201d Sinclair said.<\/p>\n

Sinclair emphasized that although police are not aware of any ongoing threat to public safety, he encouraged those in the area to be \u201caware\u201d of their surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u2018Senseless act of violence\u2019<\/p>\n

Coun. Shelley Carroll, who represents the area, said in a statement that the incident has left her heartbroken.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a devastating and senseless act of violence and my thoughts are with her family, friends and everyone in the community who has been shaken by this tragedy,\u201d Carroll said.<\/p>\n

She added that support is available for anyone impacted by the stabbing through the city\u2019s Community Crisis Response Program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will be out in the community over the coming days. Please don\u2019t hesitate to reach out if you need support,\u201d Carroll said.<\/p>\n

Police are asking anyone who was in the area at the time of the stabbing to contact them.<\/p>\n

\n

HOMICIDE:
Parkway Forest Dr. & Sheppard Ave. E. area
9:37 a.m.
-Officers responded to a stabbing in a commercial park lot
-Adult female located with stab wounds
-Transported to hospital via emerg run. Pronounced deceased
-Homicide & Missing Persons Unit investigating#GO1489034<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n