An arrest warrant has been issued for Boris Panovski, pictured, who is wanted by Ontario Provincial Police on suspicion of murder for the death of businessman Donato Frigo, 70.
Ontario Provincial Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of a 70-year-old Toronto man who allegedly gunned down an acquaintance last weekend.
Boris Panovski, who police say should be considered armed and dangerous, is wanted on suspicion of murder for the death of businessman Donato Frigo, 70, who was on horseback at the time of his death. He is also wanted for the attempted murder of Mr. Frigo's wife, Eva.
"There was an altercation that occurred between the three individuals that were present that involved a firearm," Detective-Superintendent Dave Truax said in an interview. "Unfortunately Mr. Frigo lost his life in that altercation. The female that was in his company has suffered injuries as a result of the incident."
Det.-Supt. Truax said Mr. Panovski and Mr. Frigo "were known to each other," but would not elaborate.
However, both men were involved in the province's hunting dog community. Mr. Panovski's Facebook page shows photographs of past national championship honours along with several dogs.
Mr. Frigo and his wife, who were residents of Caledon East, were prominent members of the sporting dog community. At the time of the Sept. 13 shooting, the couple were taking part in a field competition, an event that features a number of hunting dogs trying to finish first by flushing out game, in a wildlife conservation area just north of the small town of Clinton, Ont.
Police allege Mr. Panovski approached the couple, who were riding their horses while on a training break, and opened fire before driving away. Mr. Frigo died at the scene. His wife was wounded but managed to flee on horseback. Det.-Supt. Truax declined to reveal her condition, but said she is "in a place of safety."
The OPP, along with Toronto Police, raided Mr. Panovski's Scarborough home on Wednesday evening and seized several items, which are being examined at the Centre of Forensic Sciences.
Mr. Panovski is described as being 5-foot-7 and approximately 200 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. However, investigators say he may have recently changed his appearance. He was driving a blue 1998 Toyota four-door sedan at the time of the shooting, which police have since located.
The case has shocked those who knew Mr. Frigo, a vice-president of Toronto-based Hady Construction Associates, a division of the Sorbara Group – the real estate development and management company owned by the Sorbara family. The construction company has designed, managed and constructed buildings in the Toronto area since 1952.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call a dedicated OPP tip line at 1-844-278-4794.
Jill Mahoney