The man shot on a crowded patio in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood had outstanding criminal charges at the time of his death and alleged dealings with the underworld.


CBC News has learned that John Raposo, 35, was the man slain on the patio of the Sicilian Sidewalk Café on Monday afternoon.


Police sources have told CBC News that Raposo had dealings with the Mafia, but was not a made member.


At the time of his death, Raposo was facing charges for assault and dangerous driving.


Raposo left behind a child and a pregnant girlfriend. They lived in a house in the west end. Other relatives of the victim lived close to the scene of the shooting.


Neighbours who spoke to CBC News said they believed that Raposo worked in construction.


Police also provided more details about the suspect they are seeking in connection with the shooting.


Det. Sgt. Terry Browne told reporters late Tuesday afternoon that the suspect may have been in the vicinity for 15 to 30 minutes before the shooting occurred.


Browne said police have obtained security video from the area of the shooting that captured “segments of this person’s movements.”


Police previously said they are seeking a white male suspect with a medium build who is approximately six feet tall and has shoulder-length blond hair.


The suspect wore a white construction helmet, an orange safety vest with a green fluorescent X on both sides and a white filter mask when the shooting occurred at the patio near the corner of College Street and Montrose Avenue. He was last seen running from the scene.


Browne said police have heard conflicting reports about which direction the suspect fled. Police do not have knowledge of a specific vehicle that he got into.


Toronto police tweeted a reminder to local residents Tuesday to check their property “for anything that could be related to [the] homicide.”


Residents are advised not to touch any potential evidence, but to call police instead.


Police believe Raposo was the shooter's intended target.


The Sicilian Sidewalk Café had been filled with patrons watching the Italy-Ireland soccer match on Monday afternoon.


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  • Flowers lie at the door as a member of a cleaning crew is pictured in the empty foyer of Toronto's Eaton Centre on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Police continue to investigate the Saturday's shooting which resulted in one death and seven injuries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

  • Members of a cleaning crew are pictured in the window of Toronto's Eaton Centre on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Police continue to investigate the Saturday's shooting which resulted in one death and seven injuries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

  • A police officer is pictured in the empty foyer of Toronto's Eaton Centre, as a colleague and his police cruiser is reflected in the window, on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Police continue to investigate the Saturday's shooting which resulted in one death and seven injuries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

  • WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOS

    Toronto police order bystanders to clear a path so EMS can move the injured to transport. (Brian Trinh)

  • A male gunshot victim lies on the floor at the Urban Eatery food court in Toronto's Eaton Centre as EMS tends to his wounds. (Brian Trinh)

  • A female victim lies on the second floor at the Eaton Centre as EMS tends to her injuries. (Brian Trinh)

  • Male gunshot victim lies on the floor at the Urban Eatery food court in Toronto's Eaton Centre. (Brian Trinh)

  • Mall security officers escort workers during the chaos. (Brian Trinh)

  • Toronto police seal off entrances to the Eaton Centre to conduct their interior search. (Brian Trinh)

  • The intersection of Yonge and Dundas was blocked off while Toronto police conducted their search for the shooter. (Brian Trinh)

  • The scene outside the Queen Street entrance of the Eaton Centre on Saturday, June 2, 2012. (Brian Trinh)

  • Toronto Mayor Rob Ford watches the activity outside the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Saturday, June 2, 2012. A shooting that sparked mass panic at Toronto's Eaton Centre killed one person Saturday and injured seven others. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Victor Biro