A Brampton man who died days after a confrontation in a parking lot was killed during a fight over a parking spot, according to his girlfriend, who says she is struggling to understand how a routine stop on the way to work ended in tragedy. Chris Shanab, 50, was found injured the evening of Jan. 12 and later died in hospital after being taken off life support.
Speaking to CTV News Toronto, Lidia Vaiman said Shanab had planned to stop briefly at his usual convenience store to buy cigarettes but never made it inside. She said he was found on the ground around 6:15 p.m. and taken to hospital, adding that what she has been told points to a dispute over a parking space.
According to Peel Regional Police, Shanab became involved in a verbal argument with another man in a parking lot near Castlemore Road and McVean Drive around 6 p.m. The exchange escalated into a physical altercation, police said, and Shanab was taken to hospital, where he died three days later.
Vaiman described her partner as a kind, generous man with a good sense of humour who had spent years caring for his father. She said his wallet and cellphone are still missing and that she cannot reconcile his character with the violence that took his life. A close friend, Rod Compton, said the loss has been devastating, coming shortly after the death of his own father.
Police say security video from a nearby store helped investigators identify a suspect. A 25-year-old man, Abdifatah Ahmed, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter. The precise cause of death has not been made public, and investigators have said it remains unclear whether Shanab died as a result of a blow or a fall during the confrontation.
Peel police said the charge reflects their belief that the accused did not intend to kill Shanab, noting that the distinction between murder and manslaughter often hinges on intent. The investigation is ongoing.