Toronto Police Identify Victim in Fatal East End Stabbing as Search for Suspect Intensifies
TORONTO, ON — A fatal stabbing late Tuesday night in Toronto’s east end has left a community shaken and a family in mourning, as police continue their urgent search for the suspect involved. The victim has now been identified as Ashkan Pournasir-Roudbane, a Toronto resident, who tragically became the city’s 16th homicide victim of 2025.
The incident occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, behind a plaza near Danforth and Hillingdon Avenues, just east of Coxwell Avenue. According to Toronto Police, officers responded to reports of an altercation between two men in the laneway area behind the shopping plaza.
When officers arrived, they discovered Pournasir-Roudbane suffering from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics rushed him to a local hospital with critical injuries, but despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Ongoing Investigation and Suspect Search
Toronto Police’s Homicide and Missing Persons Unit is leading the investigation and continues to canvass the area for witnesses, surveillance footage, and clues about the circumstances that led to the deadly encounter.
Investigators say the suspect, described as a male wearing a dark-coloured hooded sweater and a black face covering, fled the scene shortly after the altercation. A surveillance image of the suspect has since been released to the public in hopes of generating leads.
“This was a violent and senseless act that took place in a public space,” said a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service. “We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time, or who recognizes the individual in the image, to come forward immediately.”
Authorities are urging the public to review the released image carefully and to report any information — no matter how minor it may seem — to help identify and locate the suspect.
Anyone with tips is encouraged to contact the Toronto Police Homicide Unit at 416-808-7400, or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.
Remembering Ashkan Pournasir-Roudbane
Very little has been publicly shared about Ashkan Pournasir-Roudbane at this time, but friends and community members who knew him are reeling from the shock of his sudden and violent death. As investigators work to determine the motive behind the stabbing, many are left trying to make sense of the loss.
“He didn’t deserve this,” said a friend who requested anonymity. “He was someone who was always kind, always respectful. This news has just devastated all of us.”
The murder has reignited concerns about violence in the city’s east end, particularly in areas around the Danforth that have seen periodic spikes in crime. Local business owners and residents say the incident has heightened anxiety in the neighborhood and has prompted calls for increased police presence and community support services.
Toronto’s Rising Homicide Count
Ashkan’s death marks Toronto’s 16th homicide of the year, underscoring what community advocates and city officials describe as a worrying trend in violent crime. In response, police have ramped up patrols in key areas and are urging citizens to speak out against violence, while community organizations are calling for deeper investments in conflict prevention, mental health resources, and social services.
“This can’t be normalized,” said a local councillor. “We owe it to Ashkan and his family to find the person responsible, and we owe it to our community to work toward a safer, more just city.”
How You Can Help
Police are asking residents and businesses in the area around Danforth and Hillingdon to review any surveillance footage from the night of June 17 between 10:30 p.m. and midnight, and to report anything unusual.
Tips can also be submitted through the Toronto Police Service’s online portal, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Even the smallest detail — a suspicious figure, a vehicle, a snippet of overheard conversation — could be the key to solving this crime.
If you have information, call the Homicide Unit at 416-808-7400 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.222tips.com.
Let’s work together to bring justice to Ashkan Pournasir-Roudbane’s family and restore peace to our streets.
