Published on: December 15, 2025, 04:23h.
Updated on: December 15, 2025, 04:33h.
- Authorities announce a $25K reward for information regarding the guard’s homicide.
- Wanted individual Tyjae Nosworthy-Smith has evaded capture since October 2023.
- Wife of Ferdinand urges community assistance in locating the suspect.
Law enforcement continues to search for the individual responsible for the 2023 murder of a security guard at Ontario’s Pickering Casino Resort.
Michael Ferdinand, aged 34, was tragically shot while on duty at the casino during the early hours of October 9, 2023. At the time of his passing, Ferdinand had only worked at the casino for a mere seven months.
The suspect, designated as Tyjae Nosworthy-Smith, was named by investigators on November 7 of that year and has been evading authorities ever since.
During a recent press conference, Durham Regional Police announced a $25K reward for any information that could lead to Nosworthy-Smith’s capture. The suspect is also known as the rapper Baby2, who has continued to release music on social media while on the run.
“Seek legal advice. Present yourself to the authorities,” urged Det.-Sgt. Erik Mamers. “There is a Canada-wide warrant out for his arrest on the charge of second-degree murder, and he is considered armed and dangerous.”
‘Understanding the Timeline’
At the time of the incident, Nosworthy-Smith was a 17-year-old Black male, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds, with a distinctive tattoo on his left elbow. Authorities believe he may have connections to the Driftwood community, the Jane and Finch area, and Brampton, Ontario.
An image of Nosworthy-Smith was briefly released during the press conference. According to Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act, suspects under 18 cannot be publicly named without court approval. The police can only distribute the image for a limited duration of five days.
Det.-Sgt. Mamers remarked that the police are aware of the videos the suspect has shared online post-incident and are taking necessary legal actions to locate him.
“Regrettably, once a video goes live, we are already playing catch-up in terms of tracking his whereabouts,” Mamers noted. “He maintains an active presence on social media.”
‘Appeal for Justice’
Mara, the wife of Ferdinand, directly appealed to the community for assistance in finding her husband’s murderer.
“As Mike’s family, we are requesting those who might be shielding Tyjae to remember that my husband lost his life. Our family is enduring an irreplaceable loss, and we seek the community’s help, not out of resentment, but in pursuit of truth and accountability,” she stated.
“Mike cherished Christmas… This will be our third holiday season without him, and still, justice remains elusive,” she expressed.