Canadian Casino Shuttered After Security Guard Killed in Shooting

Posted on: October 9, 2023, 10:46h.

Last updated on: October 9, 2023, 12:05h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

An Ontario gaming property and hotel are temporarily closed after a security guard was fatally wounded on Monday morning. The guard has been identified as Michael Ferdinand, 34, according to CBC News.

Pickering Casino Resort, pictured above. The Canadian casino was closed temporarily after a guard was shot dead there. (Image: Omssa)

It appears the shooter or shooters fired “numerous” bullets at Ferdinand while he was inside the casino building. The gunfire was reported to police at about 5 a.m. After officers arrived, the victim was rushed to a nearby trauma center. He died at the hospital.

It appears no one else was injured during the gunfire.

Ferdinand was on duty at the casino when the shooting took place. Police didn’t detail the circumstances surrounding the incident. Nor do they have a motive for the crime. There were no initial indications the suspects took part in a robbery or theft.

The suspects are believed to be at least one man and a woman. They fled from the crime scene after the shooting. Police didn’t provide physical descriptions for the shooters.

Pickering Casino Resort didn’t provide a time to reopen, as Durham Regional Police (DRP) investigate the homicide, Global News reported.

The fatal shooting took place as Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

About Pickering Casino Resort

The gaming property is located near Church Street and Highway 401 in Pickering. It’s located about 28 miles east of Toronto.

Pickering Casino Resort opened its on-site hotel on January 16. Hotel rooms range from 388 square feet to 775 square feet. Pickering’s 96,000-square-foot casino opened in July 2021. The casino offers 2,200 slot machines, 90 table games, 140 live dealer stadium gaming positions, and a sportsbook.

There are seven restaurants at the complex, too. There is no word if they are shuttered after the shooting.

The casino is operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. It’s the largest operator of land-based casinos in Ontario.

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Gerry October 10, 2023

You clearly have zero compassion and a serious gambling issue, that you can’t see its a messed up situation, for the people that work there. To think people just go back to business as usual after their friend and colleague was murdered, u need to give ur head a shake. I have no doubt your behaviour in the casino is that of a total entitled jerk, who give all the staff a hard time non-stop!
JSR October 10, 2023

Frank....you clearly have a problem. Please seek help!!!!
Not a Degenerate Gambler October 9, 2023

Frank, clearly you are a degenerate gambler and I would like to say that you are not a true Canadian on this Thanksgiving day. I guess you have no sympathy for his family who had to have the police turn up at their doors that early in the morning to completely change their lives forever. I hope you never experience any major life changing events as you are the kind of person that conveniently forgets the grossness you have verbalized in life and would expect everyone to feel your pain. What a pathetic waste of space you are. Happy Thanksgiving. May God let that young man, Michael, Rest In Peace.
Frank October 9, 2023

Shooting happened at 5 am it's now 1.37 casino should be open now. Police take too long to investigate anything. No information as to whether robbery was attempted