Toronto and York Region homicide investigators say a 19-year-old from Edmonton, Alta., is wanted Canada-wide in two separate killings that have gripped the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) since late January.

Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar, 37, of Brampton, Ont., was killed at around 3:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 7 in a shooting outside Woodbine Mall. Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers found him suffering from gunshot wounds in the mall parking lot. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Investigators later confirmed the attack was targeted.

“Mr. Raja Nandakumar was a respected member of his community,” said TPS Detective Sgt. Sandra Arruda. “He maintained strong connections with others in the GTA, particularly those from the same region of India. Those who knew him described him as kind, generous and always willing to help his friends.”

Toronto police announced that 19-year-old Isaiah Thomas Badger of Edmonton, Alta., is wanted Canada-wide in Raja Nandakumar’s murder.

“Anyone with information about Badger’s whereabouts should not approach him and contact police,” a TPS spokesperson said.

Man described as loving husband ad father gunned down in broad daylight days earlier

Just under two weeks earlier, at around 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 26, York Regional Police (YRP) responded to a shooting in a residential neighbourhood near Highway 27 and Langstaff Road. The victim, 65‑year‑old Sergio Lopes of Richmond Hill, Ont., was found with gunshot wounds and later died in the hospital.

Police described the attack as targeted and said the suspect fled the area in a vehicle shortly after the shooting. The suspect vehicle was later found abandoned and on fire.

“Mr. Lopes was a respected member of his community, a loving father and husband. His loss was deeply felt,” said YRP Detective Sgt. Jonathan Nauman.

Homicide detectives in Toronto and York Region believe the 19-year-old Badger is linked to the two fatal shootings. Jacob Wallace, 19, of Mississauga, Ont., is also wanted in connection with Lopes’ murder on separate first-degree murder and arson charges.

Isaiah Thomas Badger, 19, (left), is wanted on first-degree murder charges in connection with two shooting homicides in Toronto and Vaughan. Jacob Wallace, 19, (right), is also wanted in connection with the Vaughan shooting. Photo: TPS and YRP.

“We allege that Mr. Badger is responsible for shooting Mr. Lopes and that Mr. Wallace is responsible for operating the vehicle used to flee the scene of the arson,” said YRP Detective Sgt. Nauman.

Authorities urged both 19-year-old men to turn themselves in.

“We’re coming from you,” said TPS Detective Sgt. Arruda. “… We don’t have a motive. Our connection to both homicides seems to only be that we share the same suspect.”

TPS Detective Sgt. Arruda said Badger and Wallace are still believed to be in the GTA.

“They need to be apprehended immediately.”