Peel police offer $100K rewards for info in 2 unsolved murders
Peel police are offering two $100,000 rewards for information that will help solve the murders of two women who were fatally shot in separate incidents in Mississauga four years apart.
The rewards relate to the unsolved cases of Jackline Gore, 24, who was hit by a bullet in the parking lot of a bar in 2019, and Raneilia Richards, 19, who was fatally shot outside a nightclub last year on New Year's Eve.
Police say both women were innocent bystanders who weren't the intended target of the shooters.
At a news conference Monday outside Peel police headquarters, Insp. Todd Custance said that a previous $25,000 reward in the Gore case has been increased to $100,000, while police are offering a new reward for the same amount in the Richards case.
"Our determination to solve these heinous crimes is resolute," said Custance, who heads Peel's homicide and missing persons bureau.
"Your courage can help us bring peace and closure to our grieving families."
Custance said "dozens" of people were present outside the establishments where the shootings took place who didn't come forward to police.
"We really need our community to work together with us to solve these crimes," Custance said. "We really hope to motivate someone to come forward with key evidence."
Both victims were athletes
Five years ago Monday, Gore, 24, of London, Ont., was attending a birthday party at the Fume Bar & Lounge at Torbram Road and Drew Road.
Several patrons, including Gore, left the bar between 2:30 and 2:40 a.m., Custance said.
According to the investigation, Gore was standing in the parking lot chatting with friends around 2:48 a.m., when an armed man opened fire on a nearby group of men who were standing near the doors of the bar.
The targeted person fled and the gunman chased him through a park, firing continuously. One of the bullets hit Gore, and she died.
Custance said the male suspect was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a mask. He was last seen fleeing the scene in a dark crossover-style SUV.
Police have said Gore was an accomplished varsity basketball player, who attended York and Western universities before landing a full-time job at a bank. She was out with friends that night and had no association with the man who police believe was the intended target of the shooting.
On Dec. 31, 2023, Richards, 19, of Toronto, was at Jungle Event Space on Eglinton Avenue E. near Dixie Road.
Richards was waiting in line outside of the club in a group of roughly 100 people, around 1:30 a.m., when several rounds were fired at the crowd, likely from a car, police have said. She was found suffering from serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Custance said investigators have recovered the vehicle used during the homicide and are looking to speak to the driver and passenger of the car.
According to police, Richards was a talented athlete, about to attend college and planned to work toward a career in the travel and aviation industry.
Both investigations remain ongoing.
"We have no reason to believe that Raneilia and Jackline were anything but innocent victims of senseless gun violence. Such acts will not be tolerated by our service and we're committed to using any resource possible to identify those responsible," Custance said.
Anyone with information about either murder is asked to contact the Peel Regional Police homicide and missing person's bureau, or to provide a confidential tip to Crime Stoppers.
