Toronto office shooting: Alleged mortgage fraud pushed husband ‘to the edge,’ wife says

The widow of the gunman involved in a Toronto office shooting that resulted in two deaths claims that her husband was driven to the edge after falling victim to a scam that caused them to lose their life savings.

Alisa Pogorelovsky described her husband, Alan Katz, as a “humble man” who cherished his family. The couple, married for over nine years, had two children, aged 17 and six.

After the scam, Pogorelovsky said their lives took a drastic turn. She mentioned that her husband was unable to function normally, lost sleep, and appetite, and was not himself anymore.

Before the tragic incident that claimed the lives of Arash Missaghi, Samira Yousefi, and Katz, an altercation related to the business took place, according to Det.-Sgt. Al Bartlett.

In a statement earlier this week, Pogorelovsky revealed that her husband’s actions were a result of the distress caused by losing their life savings in an alleged mortgage fraud involving Missaghi and Yousefi.

A note left by Katz before his death implicated Missaghi and Yousefi, along with two others, in the events leading up to the shooting.

Pogorelovsky expressed frustration at the lack of assistance they received after falling victim to the scam, saying that they sought help from various sources but received none.

In a lawsuit filed by Pogorelovsky, Missaghi and Yousefi were accused of orchestrating a “syndicated mortgage fraud” that resulted in the loss of $1.28 million and their family home.

Despite legal issues in the past, charges against Missaghi were dropped in July 2021. The lawsuit alleges that the funds managed by Yousefi were not secured on mortgages as promised.

The lawsuit also claimed that the justice system failed to freeze the accused’s assets effectively, leaving Pogorelovsky and her family in a vulnerable position.

Ultimately, Pogorelovsky hopes for justice and closure for her family, emphasizing her husband’s intentions to protect their well-being.

Friends and family of the Katz family have started a GoFundMe page to support Pogorelovsky in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The police investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the authorities.

— with files from Sean O’Shea