Shots fired at Richmond Hill cinema for 4th time since mid-May

Police in York Region have released footage of the moment shots were fired from a vehicleoutside a Richmond Hill cinema the fourth time the theatre has been shot at since mid-May.

In a news release Wednesday, York Regional Police said the most recent shooting happened around 3:15 a.m. on June 29.

Officers were called to the theatrein the area of East Beaver Creek and Highway 7after an employee reported shots had been fired at the building.

"When [the employee] went to investigate, he noticed that somebody had shot through the front entrance of the door of the cinema. Luckily it was closed at the time," said Const. Lisa Moskaluk.

Motive still unclear

While the most recent incident happened after operating hours, Moskaluk noted two of the four shootings took place when the cinema was open.

"We are looking at all possible motives at this time. We can't say what that motive is and that is why we are appealing for information from the public," she told CBC Toronto.

A different vehicle was used by the suspects in each of the four shootings, but police are probing the incidents as part of the same investigation.

In the latest shooting, security footage captured a gunman opening fire from the rear of a blue sedan, Moskaluk said.

During the third shooting, on May 24, the suspect vehicle was a dark blue SUV, she said. It appears that same vehicle may have been used in a shooting at a Toronto movie theatre over the Canada Day long weekend, according to Mosaluk.

Until investigators are able to confirm it was in fact the same vehicle, however, they are unable to say whether the events are linked, she added.

The other two shootings at the Richmond Hill theatrehappened on May 17 and May 19. No injuries were reported in connection with the series of shootings.

Multiple theatre shootings this year

Earlier this year, a movie theatre in Richmond Hillwas shot at on Jan. 24, along with othersin Vaughan, Scarborough and Brampton. That same day, the cinemas had premiered a South Indian action movie.

Cineplex cancelled all further screenings of the film following the spate of shootings.

A 27-year-old Markham man was charged in connection with those incidents, which one Ontario film distributor alleged were part of an intimidation campaign to prevent popular South Indian movies from appearing in large theatre chains.A second arrest wasalso made a few weeks later.

Moskaluk said there is currently no reason to believe the January shootings are related to the more recent incidents at the cinema in Richmond Hill.

"Why this is happening at this particular cinema is something the investigators will look at," Moskaluk said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact York police or submit information anonymously to Crime Stoppers.