THUNDER BAY - Police continue to investigate a fatal shooting on Brodie Street and while investigators cannot say for certain that this incident is gang-related, there is growing concern about escalating gang violence in the city.
Thunder Bay Police Service Det. Inspt. Ryan Hughes said officers are interviewing people and going through surveillance video to try and identify a suspect in the Brodie Street shooting.
Officers responded to a residence on the 300 block of South Brodie Street Sunday evening just before 6:30 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. A man, later identified as 35-year-old Geoff Corbeil, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.
Police said initially in a media release that the shooting was a targeted incident, but Hughes said police do not know who killed Corbeil and cannot confirm it was targeted.
“For us to say a targeted hit, we would need to have a witness come forward or interviewing a suspect saying ‘we murdered Mr. Corbeil for this reason,’” Hughes said. “That would be a targeted hit. We don’t believe it is a random homicide, but to say it is a targeted murder, we don’t know that as of yet.”
Hughes said Corbeil had a known history in the drug trade as well as past ties to the Native Syndicate Gang.
“This wasn’t an innocent person being murdered by an unknown person,” Hughes said. “This is a person with an extensive criminal background. We are working extremely hard to find out who the suspect are.”
More than a decade ago, Corbeil had pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2005 death of Patrick Shane Kwandibens and was sentenced to nine years.
The residence on Brodie Street was known to police for drug related activity and a Thunder Bay Police patrol car was in the area approximately one hour before the shooting, but the house was not under surveillance at the time of the incident.
There is no word yet on the type of firearm used in the shooting and Hughes could only say that the injuries sustained by Corbeil were gunshots.
Hughes said police are not in a position to say that the shooting was gang-related.
“It’s hard to say with Geoff Corbeil what the motive was for his murder,” Hughes said. “For me to say it was a drug turf war, I can’t say that right now.”
But Hughes did say there have been criminal investigations in the past into incidents involving individuals who owe gangs money and experience threats and violence as a form of intimidation.
With gang activity increasing in the city of Thunder Bay, Hughes said there are disputes over areas of the city where drugs are sold, but it is difficult to determine which gangs are fighting.
“With the Toronto gang members coming up, there are a variety of gang members, so they are from different gangs,” he said. “So it’s hard to find out or get people to say who is disputing over areas or drug turf with these gangs.”
“It’s a very lucrative market in Thunder Bay,” Hughes continued. “People want to make money and they don’t want people to encroach on their areas.”
Officers continue to work at taking the drugs and guns off the streets of Thunder Bay. In the last four days, Thunder Bay Police, in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Police Service, executed four warrants, arresting 10 people and seizing large quantities of cash and drugs.
“We are working with the OPP and NAPS with the enhanced enforcement we are attempting to do a lot more warrants,” Hughes said. “Our enforcement activity has really increased in the last several months. The OPP and NAPS, and APS have committed officers to assist with the gang issues in Thunder Bay.”
And while drugs and guns are being seized from the street, incidents like the fatal shooting on Brodie Street are very frustrating for officers.
“The officers are working hard,” Hughes said. “There is never a shortage of work. Once we’ve arrest eight people, there are five people that will take their place and start selling drugs.”
