A former NCAA basketball player is one of two men in custody after a brazen drive-by shooting in Scarborough claimed the life of a mother of four late Saturday night.
Police say Andrea White, 33, was sitting in her garage with her daughter and several family friends when a white Land Rover SUV drove past her home on Forest Creek Pathway just before 11 p.m.
At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Det. Dave Dickinson told reporters that the SUV then made a U-turn and drove past White’s home one more time before firing several bullets toward the residence.
White was struck by a gunshot and rushed inside her home by family members, where she later died of her injuries.
Police have arrested Alwayne Bigby, 23, and Michael Davani, 21, in connection with the shooting.
Bigby, a local basketball star from Toronto, had previously played in the NCAA as a guard at Northeastern University and completed his last season with the Rhode Island Rams in 2013, police told CP24.
According to officials, the two suspects fled the scene of shooting, located near Old Finch and Morningside Avenues, and their SUV was spotted travelling westbound on Highway 401 a short while later by the OPP.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle near Highway 401 and Avenue Road, but the driver refused to slow down and continued north on Bathurst Street before the occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Police arrested Davani after a short pursuit, while Bigby surrendered to police several hours later.
Officials say a discarded firearm was also recovered in the Highway 401 and Avenue Road area.
The two suspects are facing first-degree murder charges and are scheduled to appear at a Toronto court on Monday.
Neighbours in the area told CP24 that White lived with her partner and four kids in the Malvern home and described her as a kind woman and a caring mother.
“She’s like a sister to me, she was a close friend,” said a neighbour, only identified as Melvin.
“She’s a good mother, she’s a wonderful person; she doesn’t deserve what she got. I don’t know why it would happen to her,” he said.
Several shell casings were seen littered on the street outside the residence Sunday morning.
Police believe the address was targeted but would not comment on a motive.
A forensics team is currently at the scene and has removed several boxes from the garage of the home.
Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Toronto Police Homicide Squad at 416-808-7400 or 42 Division at 416-808-4200.
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