An 18-year-old man has been charged in connection with the March shootings at synagogues in Toronto and Vaughan. The suspect, who was 17 at the time of the incidents, cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Details of the charges
The charges include two counts each of discharging a firearm into a place and mischief to property over $5,000, as well as single counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited device, careless storage of a prohibited device, and occupying a motor vehicle with a prohibited device.
The charges were laid by the Toronto Police Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force, with support from the Counter-Terrorism Security Unit (Hate Crime Unit), York Regional Police Firearms Investigations Team, and the Hate Crime Prevention Unit.
The incidents
On March 6, just before midnight, police received reports of gunshots near Clark Avenue and York Hill Boulevard in Vaughan. York Regional Police officers found that the front doors of a synagogue had been damaged by gunfire. Two occupants inside the synagogue at the time were not injured.
Just after midnight on March 7, Toronto Police responded to reports of gunshots at a synagogue near Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue. Officers found damage to the synagogue's front entrance consistent with gunfire. No one was inside at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Following a lengthy joint forces investigation, investigators identified and charged a suspect in relation to both incidents. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at 222tips.com.
