Nearly 15 hours after Peel Police began a hunt for a man who fataly shot a woman in Mississauga early Monday morning, they had a suspect.
39 year old Joseph Chang, the main suspect whom peel police believed was responsible for shooting and killing his girlfriend, 25 year old Alicia Lewandowski, was arrested in downtown Toronto.
Chang's car, a black sports car sought by police, was found in the parking lot outside a fast food chain restaurant. A firearm was also recovered from the vehicle.
Peel police Const. Bancroft Wright confirmed to Newstalk 1010 the takedown of Chang was a team effort of police forces.
"At approximately 7:44 p.m.tonight (Monday) our Peel Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau investigators along with the assistance from the Toronto Police Service arrestesd Joseph Chang in the area of King and Dufferin in Toronto."
Police uncovered the Mississauga homicide around 5 a.m. Monday after receiving calls about shots fired in the area of Rathburn and Dixie roads.
When police arrived on scene, they found the body of a 25-year-old woman outside a townhouse complex.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have since identified the victim as Alicia Lewandowski.
Lewandowski’s best friend, Ashley Deoliveira, told CTV News Toronto that Chang is Lewandowski’s boyfriend of four years but that the relationship had been rocky. They say the couple had broken up a few times over the years.
Shortly after hearing the news this morning, Deoliveira arrived at the scene in tears.
“My sister called me and told me that something happened at her house, so I just came up the street and ran up here to find her mom but no one is here,” she said.
Police confirmed the suspect and victim knew each other.
“Our understanding is the victim and Joseph Chang did know each other. Whether it is domestic-related or not, we don’t know that as of yet,” Const. Harinder Sohi told reporters at the scene.
Chang is scheduled to appear in court in Brampton on Tuesday.
with files from CP24