Police say young “criminals for hire” are allegedly behind dozens of shootings across Toronto, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March.
Two handguns seized during dawn raids last week could be connected to 27 separate shootings across the Greater Toronto Area, Chief Myron Demkiw said Tuesday,
One of those raids involved Const. Marc Pinizzotto, who died after being shot last Thursday.
The 43-year-old emergency task force member was among the officers executing a search warrant at 15 Martha Eaton Way, an apartment building near Trethewey and Black Creek drives, at about 5:40 a.m. June 11.
The firearms seized during those raids are also linked to shootings at synagogues across Toronto.
“What we are dealing with in this case and in other unrelated incidents, including shootings at synagogues in Jewish schools, is a recurring and similar modus operandi: that is criminals for hire,” Demkiw told reporters.
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“Through encrypted messaging apps, young people are hired to carry out attacks against various targets. And in order to get paid, they’re required to film their attacks.”
Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp are the apps being used, investigators said.
Chief Supt. Joe Matthews said officers had linked a variety of shootings across the city.
He said that, on March 25, officers responded to shots being fired at a building in Scarborough. The next day, they were called to a similar crime in Etobicoke.
Both, he said, were believed to involve the same individuals as the shooting at the U.S. Consulate.
Police have made several arrests, but Matthews said another investigation is trying to determine who may have recruited people to carry out the shootings.
“While we’ve been able to connect these firearms to numerous instances, we are still working to identify not only the individuals responsible for pulling the triggers but also those who may have directed or organized these acts of violence,” he said.
Several arrests have been made so far in the investigation, although police said it is likely more will follow.
On Friday, police announced that 18-year-old Sheldon Tracy-Stewart was arrested in connection with the consulate shooting. He faces 11 charges, including discharging a firearm, illegal firearm possession and vehicle theft.
He was also charged with failing to comply with a release order, as court documents obtained by Global News alleged Tracy-Stewart was bound by one at the time of his arrest.
Another 19-year-old, Nicholas Bennett, is currently in hospital and will be charged with first-degree murder over the death of Pinizzotto.
One suspect is outstanding: 19-year-old Zara Jabbi.
Demkiw said the force was trying everything to arrest the 19-year-old but offered no update on where he might currently be.
— with files from Global News’ Aaron D’Andrea
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