The manhunt for Zara Jabbi has concluded. The 19-year-old, wanted in connection with the firearm allegedly used in the murder of Toronto Police Officer Marc Pinizzotto, has been arrested and is now in custody.
Details remain limited, but sources indicate that Jabbi was detained at Pearson International Airport while reportedly attempting to leave the country. Toronto Police have not yet issued a statement.
Sources have informed the Toronto Sun that the individual Chief Myron Demkiw identified as being sought in relation to a modern shooting-for-hire operation, where young gunmen were paid $1,000 per assignment, was taken into custody overnight. According to these sources, the suspects filmed their alleged crimes to ensure payment.
Police are expected to provide an update to the media regarding this arrest shortly.
With Jabbi in custody, all four suspects sought in connection with a shooting-for-hire crime spree that included attacks on the U.S. Consulate and Jewish schools are now in custody. Jayon Burgher, 18, and Sheldon Tracey-Stewart, 18, have been arrested. Nicholas Bennett, 18, remains hospitalized, facing charges related to this operation as well as first-degree murder in the shooting death of Pinizzotto.
Pinizzotto was shot on June 11 inside the apartment building at 15 Martha Eaton Way while the Toronto Police Emergency Task Force was executing a search warrant for firearms linked to this alleged crime spree. In this scheme, young individuals were allegedly hired through encrypted phone applications to target the American consulate, Jewish schools, and synagogues.
In a news release, the Toronto Police Service stated that it “has arrested and charged an outstanding suspect wanted in connection with the shooting at the U.S. Consulate in March 2026. Zara Jabbi, 19, was taken into custody and now faces charges related to the incident.”
Toronto Police reported that Jabbi is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, discharge of a restricted or prohibited firearm at a place, attack on premises of internationally protected persons, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.
Police said he will appear remotely at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre today (June 18) at 10 a.m.
In the shooting at the U.S. Consulate, police stated that two men exited a white Honda CR-V and “fired multiple rounds at the building,” noting that surveillance footage showed the men “recording video of the incident on their phones.”
This is a developing story.
