Ontario Teen Gunned Down Over Stolen Cellphone

Police in London, Ontario are investigating an incident that turned deadly, and it was all because of a stolen cellphone.

On Sunday, June 14^th police responded to a report of gunfire in the area of Highbury Avenue. When officers arrived, they found an 18-year-old dead. Police have identified the victim as Jeremy Ryan Cook, originally from Brampton, Ontario. After an investigation by officers, they discovered that the homicide was the result of Cook attempting to retrieve a stolen cellphone.

Cook has left his cell in a taxi cab, but he used an electronic app to locate it at 1181 Highbury Avenue. When he arrived at the address with a relative at about 5:15 a.m., the victim and relative approached a silver 2004 Mazda 6. There were three men in the vehicle and a discussion took place between the two parties. One of the men exited the car and began to walk away.

Jeremy Ryan Cook was killed trying to retrieve his stolen cellphone (Photo Credit: Police Handout)

According to police, the vehicle started to drive away, so Cook partially climbed into the car and held the driver’s side door. The driver headed northbound on the street and then turned east. It was at this time shots were fired. When officers found Cook, he had multiple gunshot wounds. The driver of the Mazda eventually collided with a fence and hydro pole, and the vehicle was abandoned.

Within a matter of minutes, the three men were spotted leaving the area in a taxi cab and were stopped by police. But by Monday morning, police realized they had the wrong men and all three were released. Cook’s cellphone was found by a citizen in another area and that person contacted police.

All the suspects and the victim were not known to each other, and the London Police are currently searching for the three men involved.