Ottawa police have charged a 26-year-old man with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting on Heron Road more than two years ago.
Joshua Painson, of Ottawa, was arrested on October 14 and charged in the death of Ahmed Al-Badri, the Ottawa Police Service said in a media release issued Thursday morning. He was scheduled to appear in court the same day the arrest was announced.
The charge stems from a shooting on the evening of September 19, 2024. Officers were called to the 1600 block of Heron Road just after 7:30 p.m. that night following reports of gunfire.
When they arrived, police found Al-Badri inside a vehicle, injured. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but he died later in hospital.
The case was handled by the Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit, which continued the investigation for more than two years before making the arrest.
Second-degree murder carries a life sentence in Canada upon conviction, though parole eligibility can vary depending on the circumstances set by the court.
Police have not released further details about the investigation, including what led investigators to Painson or whether any motive has been established. Painson has not yet had the opportunity to respond to the charge in court, and the allegation has not been tested.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222. Police also encourage residents to register their security cameras through the CAMSafe program, which helps investigators locate potential video evidence in the area of a crime.
The Ottawa Police Service also maintains a public Community Safety Data portal at data.ottawapolice.ca, where residents can view and download data released by the service.
