The man gunned down in downtown Windsor early Monday morning is being mourned at the University of Windsor.
Douglas Kneale, interim president and vice-chancellor, says the university is expressing its sorrow at the death of Jason Solomon, a third-year student in the Criminology program.
"We extend our sympathies to Jason’s family and to his many friends and colleagues at the University," says Kneale. "As students return for the Fall term, we will be putting supports in place to reinforce our commitment to care for one another and to cherish the lives of members of our campus community, those among us and those whom we have lost."
The 20-year-old from Toronto was gunned down on Monday at approximately 2:40am on Ouellette Ave. near University Ave. A 19-year-old Windsor woman was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators say two men shot the victim several times and believe this homicide was targeted. Police are still looking for the two male suspects and the investigation continues.
Jason was part of an "Existing On Campus" feature in the University newspaper in October. The UWindsor Lance report said the two things that motivated Jason were Kobe Bryant and the show Suits.
“When people don’t think I can do something, I just remember Kobe Bryant," Solomon said in the Lance report. "When he first went to the league, people didn’t think he was going to amount to anything. For me, when I went to high school, people thought, ‘this is just another black kid from the ghetto that’s gonna disobey the rules.’ But just like Kobe Bryant excelling over the years, my grades also improved each year.”
Jason's father, Dalton, posted on Facebook Tuesday night that "it goes without saying that my family is devastated. My heart is broken and my faith tested. My son was a huge advocate of ending the senseless violence that is plaguing our streets and taking our youths daily."
"His mom and I were so happy he got into Windsor U. He wanted to pursue an education in criminology, go to law school and become a lawyer," he added "Make a difference in his own way. Maybe create a platform to share his very simple message, 'The Violence MUST Stop'. The irony is not lost on me."