Regina Murder Trial: Masked Shooter and Disturbing Request Revealed in Court
In a chilling courtroom scene at Regina's Court of King's Bench, jurors have been presented with harrowing details surrounding the 2019 drive-by shooting that claimed the life of 23-year-old Keenan Scott Toto. The trial of Dillon Ricky Whitehawk, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, has entered a critical phase with witness testimony painting a vivid picture of the fatal encounter.
Surveillance Footage and Witness Accounts
Jurors watched surveillance videos multiple times this week showing the moments leading up to Toto's death on December 1, 2019. The silent footage captured an SUV rolling along Regina's Queen Street, slowing to a stop near Toto and a female companion on the 1200 block. As the man approached the vehicle after dropping his bicycle, he suddenly staggered and collapsed onto the snow-covered ground.
Matthew Johnson, a resident of the area, testified that he heard what sounded like something smacking into the side of his house, followed immediately by screaming. Johnson emerged from his home to find Toto injured and immediately called 911 for assistance.
The Masked Shooter Description
The female witness, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, provided crucial testimony about the shooter's appearance. She told prosecutor David Belanger that she had been drinking that night and had convinced Toto to accompany her to get snacks after others declined.
"A car rolled up on us," she testified. "That's when I seen someone in the passenger pull out a gun and shot him."
She described the shooter as a male wearing a red sweater and a black facemask, armed with a long-barrelled black firearm. The witness noted the incident happened quickly, with the shooter having mid-length to long curly hair and wearing nothing on his head. She heard one gunshot before the vehicle sped away from the scene.
Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Thomas Hynes, the witness acknowledged she had offered police assumptions about the shooter's identity in the days following the incident.
Police Response and Medical Details
Regina Police Service Sgt. Jody Lorence testified about arriving at the scene and finding Toto with what he described as "a lifeless look on his face with a far-off gaze" - an expression familiar to law enforcement professionals who have witnessed similar traumatic situations.
The trial represents the second time Whitehawk has faced charges for these offences, with the current proceedings also addressing the November 9, 2019 death of 27-year-old Jordan Gaiton. Whitehawk sat behind glass in the courtroom as the surveillance footage played to the jury of fourteen members.
Aftermath and Attempts for Help
The female witness described her immediate reaction to the shooting, explaining that her screams were an attempt to summon help for the injured man. Surveillance footage showed her trying unsuccessfully to wave down a passing cab in the moments following the gunshot.
As the trial continues, prosecutors are building their case around the surveillance evidence and witness testimony, while the defence challenges the reliability of identification given the rapid nature of the incident and the shooter's concealed appearance.
