Shooting under investigation in Brantford, police locate evidence near downtown intersection

The Brantford Police Service is investigating a shooting outside a magic mushroom shop. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk explains.

The Brantford Police Service is investigating an early morning shooting near the city’s downtown core.

Officers were called to Murray Street and Chatham Street around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, after receiving reports of gunshots fired in the area.

Police confirmed to CTV News that it happened near a business operating under the name FunGuyz. The magic mushroom dispensary allegedly closed all of its Canadian locations in November.

Investigators said they located evidence at the scene that was consistent with gunfire. They did not say whether the incident appeared to be targeted.

No word on whether anyone was hurt.

CTV News reached out to FunGuyz for comment. In an email, they said did not want to share video taken by their security system with the media.

“As we are concerned it may cause unnecessary alarm and deter customers from visiting our store,” they explained. “Our priority is to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”

The incident has left nearby residents on edge.

A neighbour said he heard “five or six gunshots” around 2 a.m. CTV News is not identifying him because he fears for his safety.

“Earlier this morning, we came out and they had the shell casings out here,” said the tenant.

“I think it’s totally crazy,” Peter Gorey, another neighbour who lives next door to the shop, said. “I don’t like it, really, but it’s crazy. It’s scary.”

Gorey claimed he didn’t hear anything, though he said he isn’t surprised by what happened.

“There’s a lot of stuff. You see people going all hours of the night, running,” he said. “You know they’re up to something.”

CTV News spoke to the store manager over the phone. He confirmed no one was inside at the time of the shooting.

“We have been in Brantford almost a year now,” the manager said. “We haven’t had any issues, no upset customers, everyone loves us there.”

However, the manager also admitted this wasn’t the first incident.

“Two, three months ago the front door got broken in,” Gorey recalled. “And I don’t know what happened there, but yeah, in the middle of the night.”

Brantford police wouldn’t say whether the latest incident was targeted.

“Other than the fact that it’s an illegal business, that’s the only thing that I could think of as why someone would shoot around here,” said the tenant.

The FunGuyz store manager said the shooting won’t keep them out of business and they plan to re-open Wednesday.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any other information that might help with the investigation is asked to contact the Brantford Police Service at 519-756-7050.