Man shot, killed overnight Friday in Britannia area

UPDATE | On May 2, 2023, Michael Buckley and Dwayne Young were found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Jonathan Wite.

Ottawa police say they are investigating the shooting death of a 23-year-old man at an apartment building in the Britannia area.

Officers responded to 2881 Richmond Rd. at around 12:10 a.m. Friday after receiving a call about an unconscious male, the Ottawa Police Service said. He was pronounced dead in hospital.

Police have identified the victim as Jonathan Wite, 23, of Ottawa. Ottawa police's homicide unit said the shooting was targeted.

Kathleen Morris, who lives in the Richmond Road apartment building where Wite was killed, said the shooting has her worried for her own safety.

"It's a very nice building, it's just the area that I'm concerned about," she told CBC on Friday. "The police are here quite a lot."

Morris watched the building's lobby through an internal television channel as a coroner entered the building and a body was removed early Friday morning.

"That kind of really disturbed me," she said, visibly shaken. 

Late Friday, police released surveillance photos of three individuals — two men and a woman — they would like to speak with about the shooting and are asking for the public's help in identifying them.

Meantime, police are increasing their presence in the area. The Bayshore neighbourhood resource team was put in place this week to build relationships, work on crime prevention and reassure the community.

Tim Hodgins, acting superintendent in criminal investigations with the Ottawa police, said the criminal investigation into the shooting has just begun and he was not able to comment on any possible motive.

"In the realm of investigations we're very, very early," he said. "Anyone with information should approach the Ottawa police."

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, or who has tips to share, to call the homicide unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493.