Two arrested, one still at large after brazen Wednesday morning carjacking in Oshawa

Two people are in custody – including a 17-year-old – and one man is still at large following an organized gunpoint carjacking in Oshawa early Wednesday morning.

Central West Division officers responded to a vehicle theft in progress just after 3 a.m. Wednesday near Kentucky Derby Way and Dance Act Avenue in Oshawa’s north-end University District.  The victim and a male companion were in a parked vehicle, when two men approached and attempted to gain entry.

Although the victim promptly secured the driver-side doors, the driver’s companion allowed access to the suspects as police said he was involved in the planned carjacking.

One of the suspects then pulled out a gun and forcefully removed the victim from the driver’s seat. All three suspects fled the vicinity in the stolen vehicle.

A short time later, police located the car parked at a nearby business.  One suspect then fled the vehicle on foot and was arrested a short distance away. The second suspect remained in the passenger seat and was taken into custody.

Police were not able to capture the third man, who is described as an Asian man in his late teens to early 20s, 5’10” with a skinny build and wearing black clothing.

The firearm, which was determined to be a BB gun, was recovered.

The victim was transported to a local area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Evan Muir, 19, of Whitby and a 17 year-old from Oshawa are both charged with robbery, assault causing bodily harm, disguise with intent, possession of a weapon for committing an offence and possession of stolen property (over $5,000).

Both were held for a bail hearing.

As a result of the rising incidents of violence related to auto crimes across the GTA, local police services have combined resources and established a Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force to co-ordinate law enforcement efforts in combating these crimes.

This collaborative approach aims to disrupt the networks responsible for violent and high-risk auto thefts and maximize enforcement efforts against criminal organizations.

Co-led by the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police, the task force includes partners at Durham, York, Peel and Halton regional police forces and other external agencies, including the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario.

Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to contact D/Cst. Aukema of the DRPS Major Crime Robbery Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5362.