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VICTOR KWONG: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to police headquarters
Today I'd like to introduce you Detective Justin Vander Heyden
who will be speaking about Gaethan Kitadi's ***
The *** homicide number 52 2013 VANDER HEYDEN: Thank you victor
Good afternoon everybody. Before I get started I'd like to introduce
Gaethan Kitadi's family we have today his mother and father
his aunt and uncle as well as his cousin and his stepsister
at the end I'm going to offer them the opportunity to speak
but they ask for a bit of privacy until then
Last week I released images have six young men who
arrived at 11 Main St. just before midnight
on November 9th 2013 that was an Gaethan Kitadi was having his
20th birthday party at that building
He was there with close friends and family
these six young men walked into the front doors and waited near the outer vestibule
for someone to leave
that gave them the opportunity to enter the interior of the building
all six these males were captured on video surveillance cameras loitering in
the lobby for some time before that
these males did not just trip across this party they knew about it
because somebody told him. Several of these males loitered in the lobby
while I believe the other searched the building for the location of the
apartment that the party was being held in they were not invited to this party
they were never allowed access to the party and all six males were escorted
out shortly after by Gathan and
and a few friends. Today I'm here today to release portions of the video
from the lobby video camera that sure the six males were in before they're
escorted out
I have to tell you have watched this video several times
my sense is that although these males came to crash a birthday party
not all them came looking for trouble. Having said this
we know now at least sadly that one of them came armed with a gun
before things went wrong shortly after midnight
these males took no steps to conceal their identities from the camera
it is for this reason that I'm of the mind that at least five these males did not know
what was going to happen. I'm releasing the video today an appeal to these five
young men
No doubt your friends and family have recognized you in these images
and on this video. Seek the advice of competent legal counsel
and come forward. If you're a witness to this cold-blooded ***
of an innocent and unarmed young man on his 20th birthday
please come forward and do the right thing. In this scenario
I have five witnesses and one shooter however
your silence protects the young man recklessly shot into a crowd of people
when a fight broke out. If you're not willing to come forward
I'll have to remain open to the fact that you have aided
and abetted the shooter and therefore particip ated as an accessory
after the fact to the offence of ***. Crime Stoppers has been a great assistance so
far in this investigation
but I'd rather these five males come in under the weight of their own conscience
rather than waiting for me to find out who they are and visit them myself
Today I'm joined by several members Gaethan's family
and I'd like to offer them
the opportunity to speak to you. If there are any questions you can ask of me first
I will introduce you to them afterwards
QUESTION: Justin, Have you been able to speak to Gaethan's friends who came down to the lobby afterwards
VANDER HEYDEN: I have.
What happen is the day that followed the *** I believe a lot of these
young men were very upset went home and tried to recover a bit
from the trauma and I've received a great deal cooperation from Gaethan's family
and and his friends.
QUESTION: Can you just walk us through what happened? Did these guys make up to the party and were brought back down
VANDER HEYDEN: It looks as though they've as you can see in the camera behind me they've come in
and they waited in the vestibule they weren't allowed accessed because it's locked door.
They waited for somebody inadvertently to leave and they've taken advantage of that
opportunity and come in
because the nature how this party was published
only the address to the building was published the apartment number wasn't
The rules were the you had contact one of the two hosts of this party
and they would escort you up to the apartment so clearly the six males don't
know the apartment
and there's standing there waiting to gain that intelligence. It looks as though
two of the males
who are persons of interest number three and six separate from the four
and looks like they go through the building we only guess that because this
this camera doesn't cover the hallways. It looks as though a short time they
come back down and collect the other four
and all six go off camera. Approximately 12 minutes later
the elevator surveillance camera shows these six males
plus Gaethan and a friend escorting them out
the front door. What happens is there's a blending of groups
because there are friends Gaethan's in the lobby that return from a
trip to a nearby convenience store and there is a meshing of the group
that is being escorted out and Gaethan's trends and it's at that point that words are
exchanged
and it looks like some sort of conflict breaks out. QUESTION: So what happened in those 12 minutes?
The theory is now is that they went to find the
floor it's not a very large building six floors
so they probably listened for the music and they've gone from floor to floor listening for it
My guess is they got to tried to gain access and we're denied at the door
and what's happened is Gaethan has left to let his friends back in
the front doors who had gone to the store and in doing so has
come upon the six of them loitering in the hallway realized who they were
and asked them to leave
QUESTION: You said that you believe that one of them came possibly with other plans other than just to go to a party.
You're saying that because one of them was armed with a gun or you're saying that because you believe
one of them came intending to hurt of kill Gaethan or someone else at the party
VANDER HEYDEN: I believe they came just to go to the party and it's quite possibly that one of them was the type of people
that would carry a gun with them
just in the course of going about his business
QUESTION: How was this party advertised? VANDER HEYDEN: Through social media. Twitter.
QUESTION: How was it advertised? Anybody's welcome or
VANDER HEYDEN: It was a closed party list it was by invitation only
but unfortunately once those invitations go out anyone who is standing beside someone
who received that invitation could learn that address
and 11 Main street is not a hard address to remember
QUESTION: Do you believe anyone at that party knew these guys?
VANDER HEYDEN: No I don't. QUESTION: They were just looking for a place to party?
I believe somebody must have known them. I'll back up. I think someone must have known them
They didn't just pick 11 Main street out of the blue
from what I gather they walked across the street straight into the front of 11
Main Street there's they could have heard that party from outside so they must
have had some level of
knowledge that there was a party there Where they got that knowledge is still
under investigation
QUESTION: Do you have names for
any of the persons of interest here VANDER HEYDEN: Like I said, Crime Stoppers has been
of great assistance to us but we like these males to come in because if the images that
were releasing today
QUESTION: Do you have a belief of which one is the six is the shooter?
We have a strong belief who it is but this point we're going to keep that to ourselves
QUESTION: When you say Crime Stoppers has been of great assistance do you
have a good idea of is it safe to say of who some of these... VANDER HEYDEN: A number of these
males, we have very good idea of who they were. QUESTION: So why not go knock on their door?
VANDER HEYDEN: We're going to hold all that back until we identify
all six of them. QUESTION: So you don't believe Gaethan
knew all six. VANDER HEYDEN: No I don't there's no nothing to indicate that he knew any of them. QUESTION: So you think he was killed
because he kicked these guys out of his party? VANDER HEYDEN: I think they're asked to leave
and they were going willingly and what happens is when this meshing occurred at
the front door
words were spoken and it seemed as as fickle as a
an argument at the front door and perhaps someone says the wrong thing
and someone else took offence. QUESTION: What was it that they said what was this
argument about? VANDER HEYDEN: We still don't know.
QUESTION: Just to clarify these images we see here are just before they go up?
VANDER HEYDEN: This is prior to, yeah. I still have the video the actual conflict that i'm going to hold onto
QUESTION: So it's caught on video then? The actual homicide?
VANDER HEYDEN: The actual fight happens in the in the threshold at the door between the lobby
and the vestibule. QUESTION: Is that where the shooting took place?
VANDER HEYDEN: That's right. QUESTION: So it's all captured on video? VANDER HEYDEN: That's right.
At this time I'm going to turn it over to Gaethan's family if they want to speak
This is Gaethan's cousin
and Gaethan's uncle
UNCLE: I will be speaking in French and we will try to translate for you
COUSIN(translation): I know that the family is going through some rough time
Gaethan was an older son
He was a very smart kid
very wise and calm
He never had any problem
This is
a surprise for us. It hurts
All that we can say
is that anyone who could
that good help with the investigation
with good information
to who did this to us
for us and the family
That could help us and come forward
Because we want to know why he did this
Because we know that Gaethan did not have a problem with anyone
That's all we can say at this moment
QUESTION: What is your name?
UNCLE: Mon nom est Laurent
L-A-U-R-E-N-T
Ca c'est mon prenom
Mon nom c'est
M-U-K-E-N-D-I
QUESTION: Was this party at Gaethan's home?
How many people were there?
COUSIN (translation): About 20 friends
QUESTION: Just tell me Detective Vander Heyden is saying
he was killed over somehting so stupid, over some sort of stupid argument
that erupted. What does it mean to you guys
the family to know that it could be something so insignificant that could lead to his death
COUSIN (translation): It's extremely
overwhelming
Because we can explain we also ask ourselves
because our child was never in a bad environment
He never had a problem
We could not
have expected this type situation to happen
We were surprised
We really don't have an explanation to what occured
QUESTION: What does it mean to you to have the right
people to step forward to get these guys to at least, you know
go to a police station giving a statement and possibly leading to an arrest
If anyone can help us that is
pretty much our prayer it would help us very much
QUESTION: Do you guys know, or maybe Justin will be better to answer this but why these guys weren't welcome at the party? Was it simply
because they didn't know anybody there? Or were they causing problems when they showed up?
COUSIN: I think it's best for officer Justin to answer it
VANDER HEYDEN: Thank you very much. I can say tell that the rules for his party were set weeks in advance
the host was asked to host the party at a different apartment
then Gaethan's apartment with very specific rules and those rules were there was a set
guest list
with a very small number people under 30 and if you weren't
if you hadn't confirmed your attendance prior to the party you weren't going to be allowed in
the front door
even if you had been invited. They had security
they hired security in the party itself. They had a photographer
and a DJ. This was extremely well-organized all the precautions that
we ask people to put into place were put into place to ensure the safety of
everybody that was there
QUESTION: Was there an exchange of money to enter this party
Was robbery a possible motive as well? Was alcohol being sold?
VANDER HEYDEN: There was absolutely no money being exchanged this was a very close friends
of Gaethan's. QUESTION: Justin why was there security? Are there issues with the building? With the family?
Were they just trying to make sure with extra precautions that no one
could get in? VANDER HEYDEN: I think because that the method that was used to
advertise the party they recognized the potential for people
who were uninvited to show up
and it's just a precaution I'm I've spoken to a great number of people there
at the party that night
and they're actually very very nice people who were destroyed
over what happened because until Gaethan left to escort these guys out
and in fairness when Gaethan left the party everyone in the party
thought that Gaethan was going to let his friends in the front door they didn't
realize that he encountered this group welcome guests on his way to the front
door
but up until that point the party was a very well enjoyed
there was nothing there wasn't any arguments or any harsh words spoken in
the party and i've seen photographs taken that party up until
two minutes before the 9-1-1 call and everyone seems to be quite happy
and having a good time. QUESTION: (inaudible) The guests of the party thought he had gone to let people back in? VANDER HEYDEN: That's right.
And he did. Because the guests who had gone to the convience store were waiting to get back in
QUESTION (inaudible) VANDER HEYDEN: I know that they made it into the building and that Gaethan
and him encoutered them
on their way down to let their friends back in
the front door. QUESTION: Was Gaethan's birthday that day? on the Sunday?
VANDER HEYDEN: He was 30 minutes into his birthday when he was killed but I can say is anyone with information
including any lawyers
that are contacted by these five males can contact me at the Homicide Squad at
416-808-7400 my extension is
7-7397 or cann contact Crime Stoppers at 222-TIPS
and they can get me information 24 hours a day
QUESTION: Could I just ask one more question of the family? I was just wondering if
you would let us know about Gaethan's dreams and ambitions, what he was planning to do?
COUSIN (Translation): Gaethan was a very smart kid
He loved sport
He was very good at basketball
He had a knee injury
He went to school to become, pretty much a sports management
His dream was pretty much to help all people with basketball because he couldn't make it himself
QUESTION: Was he ever involved in the community? Did he help young people in the community?
Was he looked up to?
COUSIN (Translation) Gaethan grew up in the community
and the Christian congolese community
since he was 7
He grew up with a lot of youth
that he was helping in the community
QUESTION: How is his mom, his dad, his sister? How are they even beginning to deal with this tragedy?
It's a disaster
He is the only son
we invested in him, he finished his high school we were hoping he would finish his college
to be a support to the family
It is pretty much a pillar that was taken away from the family
period I was taken away from the fam
We don't know so we leave it in the hands of God
That's why we're asking
if someone could help us
to come forward and talk to the police
everyone will understand what happened
QUESTION: He went to Humber College? Is that right?
COUSIN: No, Durham. QUESTION: What was he studying there? MUKENDI: Sports management QUESTION: What's your message for the...
the person, for the shooter
COUSIN (Translation): If I had a message I could send to the person who shot Gaethan
now that you've been committed you know and left to make mistakes
In life we can make mistakes but if we're able
to have the courage to come forward
to say 'I'm the one who did it'. If we could see you
If we could talk to you. Maybe, we could forgive you.
complaint about the knee before you make for the book which depends on
But you have to present yourself
And we have to talk and find out why you did it
Gaethan's gone. We're never going to see
Gaethan again. But if you could come forward and talk
and say why you did it, we could talk.
That's the message I have to send.
QUESTION: Would you mind spelling out your first and last name again, please?
My first name is L-A-U-R-E-N-T M-U-K-E-N-D-I
QUESTION: And your Gaethan's cousin? COUSIN: Yes. QUESTION: And could you say and spell your first and last name for me?
COUSIN: Christian Kitadi. C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N K-I-T-A-D-I QUESTION: Would anyone else from the family like to say anything? CHRISTIAN KITADI: No
VICTOR KWONG: Thank you very much that concludes today's conference