The shooting death of two teens at a housing complex in Richmond Hill has prompted some to rethink the safety of the town.

York Regional Police (YRP) officers responded to a call at Centre Green Co-Operative Housing at 172 Centre St. E. and came upon three victims in a car suffering from gunshot wounds. A 15-year-old female victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and an 18-year-old male succumbed to his injuries in hospital. The third victim, a 20-year-old male, is recovering in hospital. All three hail from the city of Brampton and YRP believe this to be a targeted shooting.

However, the local councillor is concerned. “My neighbours and I are shocked,” said Coun. Carmine Perrelli, whose ward the co-op falls in. “Richmond Hill is one of the safest communities in the GTA.”

Perrelli had previously opposed social housing in the area. “This past fall we had a major debate about social housing in Richmond Hill,” said Perrelli. “My warnings fell on deaf ears.” Perrelli hosted a community meeting on the issue of crime and public safety on Jan. 22.

According to YRP’s statistics, which are only available for the region as a whole, homicides in the region fell from 11 to eight in 2012, and weapons violations and reports of sounds of gunshots have decreased significantly over the past five years.

Old Mill Pond Residents Association spokesperson Robert Young understands the effect a homicide can have on the neighbourhood. “There was a murder in Ward 4 last year,” said Young, who resides in the ward. “I’m hopeing that people don’t use this as fuel for a fire [against the co-op] because we don’t have the facts to support that yet.”

Constable Andy Pattenden said police are continuing to work toward answers.

“The third victim remains in hospital and continues to improve,” he said. “Our investigations unit is working diligently to find out who did this.”