A Scarborough family is in shock after 19-year-old Daniel Amalathas was gunned down in what police are now calling a targeted killing inside Scarborough Town Centre last Thursday afternoon.
Toronto Police said Amalathas was found with a gunshot wound inside the family washroom near the food court just before 2 p.m. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Initially treated as suspicious, investigators confirmed Saturday that his death was a deliberate attack.
At his family’s Scarborough home, grief has been overwhelming. Photos and flowers now fill the living room as relatives mourn the loss of their only son.
“My brother was a loving, caring and selfless person,” said Jessica Amalathas, his older sister. “He was a hard worker and very independent… He was compassionate, and I miss him very much.”
Daniel was a second-year automotive mechanical engineering student at Ontario Tech University and also worked part-time at Costco. His family said he had no known enemies and cannot understand why anyone would want to harm him.
His mother, Judy Basil, described him as a “kind, loving, church-going boy” and recalled how he had simple plans for the rest of the day, including washing his car. Driving past the mall that afternoon, she and Daniel’s father saw first responders but never imagined the tragedy involved their son.
The family has also raised concerns about how police handled the scene, saying the mall remained open while investigators worked. “I feel they should have done a lockdown. Because my brother got hurt and who’s next?” Jessica said.
Toronto Police Acting Inspector Baheer Sarvanandan defended the decision, saying officers quickly secured the washroom area and recovered the firearm, determining there was no immediate risk to the public.
Still, the family fears the person responsible may still be at large. Police continue to investigate and are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.