Police in the Durham area are searching for a 17-year-old young man believed to be responsible for the killing of a casino security guard on Thanksgiving.

On October 9, shortly after 5 a.m., officers from the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) were called to the Pickering Casino Resort, near Highway 401 and Brock Road, due to reports of "multiple" shots fired.

At the scene, they found the on-duty security guard Michael Ferdinand, who was shot. The 34-year-old citizen, a resident of Whitby, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

(Ferdinand) was doing his job and ensuring the safety of all casino patrons. He was senselessly shot and killed. Michael went to work that day and never came home, said Sergeant Brad Corner of the force's Major Crime and Homicide Unit during a press conference Wednesday morning.

"We now owe his family, friends, and coworkers the responsibility of bringing those accountable to justice."

The police obtained a court order to identify the young man wanted in this murder case. However, this warrant will expire on November 11.

Noworthy Smith is wanted under a Canada-wide arrest warrant on a second-degree murder charge.

The police also temporarily released an image of Noworthy Smith, who is described as a Black man, standing five feet eight inches tall, weighing 110 pounds. He also has a tattoo on his left elbow of the word Chantel.

Corner said Noworthy Smith "has no fixed address" but is known to have connections to the Driftwood area in North York, near Jane Street and Finch Avenue West.

He added, "We urge the public to help locate him."

The police stated that Noworthy Smith should be considered "armed and dangerous," and urged anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately and not to approach him.

Corner also called on him to hire a lawyer and surrender to authorities, reminding people that anyone found to be assisting the suspect in evading police is "guilty of an offense under the Canadian Criminal Code and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The exact motive for the murder is still under investigation, although Corner said it "does not appear to be a premeditated attack."