‘Our third Christmas without Mike’: Durham police announce reward in murder of Pickering casino security guard

Police announced $25K reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the death of a security guard at a Pickering casino in 2023.

A $25,000 reward has been announced for information leading to the arrest of the suspect police believe fatally shot a security guard at a Pickering casino back in 2023.

The reward in the murder of 34-year-old Whitby resident, Michael Ferdinand, was announced at a news conference at Durham Regional Police headquarters on Monday morning.

Ferdinand died at around 5 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2023, after suffering multiple gunshot wounds while at Pickering Casino Resort, where he was employed as a security guard.

On Monday, police said they have once again received judicial authorization to temporarily identify the suspect, who was 17 at the time of the offence and cannot be identified as per the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The suspect, who is now 20 years old, has been identified by police as Tyjae Nosworthy-Smith, of no fixed address.

Police are able to identify him until Dec. 19, when the court order expires.

“Michael’s murder was senseless and devastating. His death shattered his family, it left a permanent void in the lives of those who loved him, worked alongside him, and depended on him,” Det.-Sgt. Erik Mamers told reporters on Monday.

“We owe it to Michael, his family, and to the entire community to find the person responsible and bring him to justice. ... Someone has the piece of information that we need. Even the smallest detail, something may seem insignificant, could be what finally leads us to him.”

Suspect ‘very active’ on social media

Mamers said the suspect also goes by the alias Baby2, adding that he has ties to North York’s Driftwood area, near Jane Street and Finch Avenue West, as well as Brampton. Police have said they don’t believe he’s left the Greater Toronto Area.

When asked about music videos that the suspect has posted online on an account of the same name since the fatal shooting, Mamers said police are aware of them.

“We are taking steps with judicial authorizations to try to track him down. Unfortunately, once a video is posted, we are behind the timeline on where he is at that point,” he said.

“He does have a very active social media.”

Speaking at Monday’s news conference, Ferdinand’s wife Mara Abolins made a direct appeal to the public for assistance.

“Mike loved Christmas… This will be our third Christmas without Mike and there has been no justice,” she said.

“We, Mike’s family, are appealing to those who are protecting Tyjae to remember that my husband lost his life. Our family is living with a loss that cannot be repaired and we asking for the community’s help not out of anger but out of a need for truth and accountability.”

Abolins described her husband as a “loving, caring, and generous” person who “made everyone laugh.”

“Mike was part of who I am as a human being,” his wife said, adding that the two met when they were teens.

“Figuring out how to live life without half of me has been daunting to say the very least.”

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Allison Hurst