Two teenagers, barely old enough to shave, have admitted to a disturbing crime spree that included helping a friend cover up a tow-truck related murder and shooting up numerous businesses, including a public school. The youths, identified only as K.A. and R.R. under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were just 15 years old at the time of the offenses.
In a downtown courtroom, they pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of accessory after the fact to reckless discharge of a firearm in connection with the July 6, 2024, shooting death of 28-year-old Sulakshan “Sully” Selvasingam. The Pickering tow-truck operator was gunned down while sitting in his white Mercedes SUV at a Shell gas station at Warden Avenue and Ellesmere Road.
“Within seconds and without provocation, he was shot repeatedly by (the third teen),” assistant Crown attorney Sharna Reid told Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell, as the victim's parents listened through an interpreter.
Background of the Crime Spree
The alleged killer, identified as A.P., along with K.A. and R.R., were originally charged with first-degree murder. Investigators believe the teens were likely hired as foot soldiers in the tow-truck wars because the penalties for juveniles are relatively low.
According to the agreed statement of facts, the trio were in a stolen black Acura TLX near Kennedy Commons plaza on the night of July 5, 2024, when A.P. received a call during which “he discussed plans to kill someone.” The following day, K.A. admitted he and A.P. spent the afternoon driving around the Scarborough area in a white Honda Civic, while R.R. drove in tandem in a stolen black Acura. Later that evening, they separated, and R.R. went to a prearranged location, understanding that A.P. was going to carry out a shooting.
The Murder and Cover-Up
At 10:16 p.m., A.P. drove the white Honda with K.A. in the passenger seat to the Shell station. When Selvasingam pulled up beside them, he was shot. A.P. then called R.R., and they all met up shortly before 11 p.m. in Uxbridge. While K.A. and R.R. did not shoot the victim, they admitted to helping the gunman remove the licence plates from the white Honda, dumping them down a sewer drain, and setting the car on fire to conceal his identity and assist him in escaping prosecution.
Additional Shootings
Along with their role in the murder, the pair pleaded guilty to numerous charges of reckless discharge of a firearm related to a frenzy of shootings over the Canada Day weekend in 2024. K.A. pleaded to eight counts, and R.R. to ten, with details suggesting some may have been assignments in the tow-truck turf war.
On June 29, 2024, at about 1:59 a.m., K.A. admitted he was a passenger in a stolen blue Honda Civic when he opened fire at the Urban Auto Collision Centre. A security guard and an employee in the dispatch office fortunately escaped injury. They then headed to York Cinemas in Richmond Hill, where K.A. unleashed multiple shots and R.R. filmed him. The following afternoon, they returned to Urban Auto Collision in another stolen vehicle, a black Honda CRV, and K.A. fired more shots. About half an hour later, he shot at Bayview Hill Elementary School in broad daylight, but luckily it was closed.
They then targeted Veerar Takeout in Scarborough, where K.A. shot out the front window with staff inside and pedestrians nearby. The next target was Woodside Cinemas, where he fired at the doors within metres of an individual seen retreating through one of the doors, as R.R. egged him on: “Film it, record it. Just hit those three doors.”
Their frightening fury continued at Williams Towing Service, where K.A. filmed as A.P. discharged multiple shots, hitting a tow truck and the office. An hour later, K.A. fired at Cannaverse Dispensary.
R.R. pleaded guilty to those eight counts as well as two more. On July 5, 2024, he was in the stolen black Acura and was recording as someone said “This black one?” and R.R. replied, “Yeah, go fam.” The rear passenger opened fire on a tow truck at a Shell gas station on Don Mills Road, causing the driver to have to duck. On July 10, R.R. also admitted to recording A.P. as he shot up Williams Towing.
The teens are scheduled to return to court on June 24 for a sentencing hearing. The leniency of the Youth Criminal Justice Act remains a point of contention.
