Youth Involved in Gun Crimes Raise Concerns for Toronto Police

Toronto police report that several investigations into shootings around the city, including incidents at synagogues and the U. S. Consulate, show a trend of young people being hired to carry out gun crimes.

Chief Myron Demkiw and Chief Supt. Joe Matthews shared details at a news conference Tuesday morning, shortly after police executed search warrants related to various shooting incidents in the area.

Matthews noted that three recent arrests have been tied to these investigations, including one individual suspected of killing a Toronto police officer during a raid on Thursday.

Demkiw stated that investigators seized two firearms during the raids: a 9-mm handgun believed to be linked to at least six shooting incidents across the city and a.45-calibre weapon thought to be connected to at least 21 others.

He added that multiple shootings under investigation in the Toronto area, along with three recent arrests, seem to form part of a broader network involving young people hired for shooting activities targeting places like the U. S. Consulate, Jewish schools, synagogues, and GFL Environmental waste management facilities.

“Through encrypted messaging apps, young people are hired to carry out attacks against various targets,” Demkiw said. “In order to get paid, they’re required to film their attacks. Who’s paying for this? This is what we are trying to determine.”

Police collaborating with RCMP and FBI on cases

The Toronto police are collaborating with both RCMP and FBI on these investigations, according to Demkiw, who believes there are several gun-for-hire networks involved in local shootings.

“What we know is that bad actors are using criminal elements in our city to carry out these dangerous incidents, and it is clear that some of the people hiring these criminals want to create a sense of fear in our communities, including in the Jewish community,” he explained.

The police suspect that firearms are being “swapped around” within these networks and utilized in different shootings.

Three recent arrests have been linked to the shooting investigations, Chief Supt. Joseph Matthews said, including the alleged killer of a Toronto police officer who was shot during a raid Thursday. (Alex Lupul/CBC)

Matthews also indicated there’s an “overlap” between these investigations and shootings aimed at tow trucks and waste management companies but didn’t provide further details.

“These are very, very complex investigations,” he noted.

A lawyer from Toronto and former director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott told Tuesday that those carrying out these acts probably aren’t getting paid much.

“It’s a bit of a domino process which just requires working your way up what could be a rather elaborate food chain,” he remarked.

“It’s without doubt having a major impact upon public safety in the community,” Scott added.

3 arrests connected to gun-for-hire network: police

Nicholas Bennett was arrested on Thursday facing first-degree murder charges for Const. Marc Pinizzotto’s death. Bennett was allegedly also involved in another shooting incident at a Scarborough Village residence on March 25 as well as one at a jiu-jitsu studio near Islington Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard on March 26.

The Toronto police state Bennett is currently hospitalized but remains in critical condition according to an email from SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette sent Tuesday.

Another arrest made by Halton police includes Jayon Burgher, 18 years old from Barrie; he’s accused concerning his involvement in the jiu-jitsu studio shooting on April 14.

The investigations also led earlier reported arrest of Sheldon Tracey-Stewart who was allegedly linked with gunfire directed toward the U. S. Consulate on March 10.

No injuries were reported from the consulate shooting back then; however, RCMP termed it as “a national security incident.” The event has been associated with an FBI terrorism arrest recently according to an April 2026 U. S. Department of Justice criminal complaint.<WATCH | Consulate shooting arrest made after Toronto officer fatally shot:class=”video-item-title”>U. S. consulate shooting suspect arrested after Toronto officer’s death | Hanomansing Tonight<Toronto police have apprehended someone accused of firing shots at the U. S. consulate earlier this year. This comes after Const. Marc Pinizzotto was killed while executing search warrants linked directly related tо thе investigation.<Zara Jabbi，19，is wanted due tо hіs al leged connection tо thе consulatе shооting. Police had stated last week hе wаs аn outstanding suspect among broader inquiries leading tо Thursday’s search warrants.<“They’re all adults thаt hаvе committed thеse offenses,” Matthews commented.“But it’s not lost оn us thаt younger peo ple аre being recruited.”<Demkiw mentioned thаt investigati ons remain active аnd additional arrests аnd charges might come later.

Source link