Police update investigation of slain Niagara woman in Toronto

(Updated)

Toronto homicide detectives have released new evidence they hope will lead to the gunmen who killed Jelena Loncar. The Niagara Falls native was shot multiple times simply standing on the street with friends in the entertainment district. Police believe that Jelena was not the intended target. She was an innocent victim who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lana Loncar, Jelena’s sister: “I want you to know she was the nicest person in the world. She greeted everyone with a big smile and a massive hug.”

The victim, Jelena Loncar was meeting friends in Toronto’s entertainment district in the early morning hours of August 26th. She was walking toward a group of those friends on Wellington Street.

Detective Debbie Harris, Toronto police: “As she approached and started speaking with all of her friends, three vehicles arrived on Wellington. A group of males get out of these vehicles and approach Jelena, her friends and the crowd that were standing outside one of the establishments.”

Gunshots were heard and then Jelena was shot. Another man was shot multiple times but survived. Police believe he was the intended target.

Minutes later, those same three vehicles were again seen on video going north on Portland Street toward Queen Street.

A half hour before the ‘C’ Lounge shooting police were called to shots fired near a strip club on The Queensway. Police say they have evidence linking The Queensway incident to the ‘C’ Lounge shooting.

Det. Harris: “Not only do these same three vehicles leave The Queensway shooting, but forensic evidence links the crime scene at 689 The Queensway and our murder.”

The cars are described as a white, base model Chrysler 300 with no front licence plate and a small black antenna. A dark coloured four-door vehicle with a small spoiler on the trunk. And a dark coloured four door with all its windows tinted.

Police have also identified a person of interest. A black male, age 18 to 25, 5′ 10″ to 6ft in height with a thin build, short hair, possibly in corn rows and gold caps on his teeth.

Jelena would make sure she was there for every birthday celebration. The reason she was meeting friends that morning was to celebrate someone’s birthday.

Jelena went to high school in Niagara Falls. Worked at Casino Niagara. She was a talented events planner. She moved to Toronto because she wanted to make a name for herself in the hospitality industry.

Lana Loncar made a tearful appeal to anyone who has any information on who killed her sister: “I didn’t lose a sister. I lost my best friend and roommate. And my parents lost their oldest child.”

Jelena’s family is devastated because she was truly an innocent victim. They’re hoping that with the release of this new information, someone will come forward to identify the gunman.