The Toronto Police Services announced it had arrested a man and youth in connection with a firearm discharge targeting a Jewish girl’s elementary school for the second time.
A TPS report said that police found 14 shell casings at Bais Chaya Mushka school, and no one was injured.
“Our Forensic Identification Services, in collaboration with the Centre for Forensic Sciences, and the ministry of the Solicitor General, played a critical role in this investigation,” Deputy Chief Robert Johnson said at TPS headquarters Friday. “Their meticulous examination of the evidence was key in identifying and charging the individuals involved.”
The incident occurred on Yom Kippur, on Oct. 12, a solemn day during the Jewish High Holidays.
“Nearly a week ago, (around 4 am) police were alerted to a smashed window at a school,” the report said. “Upon arrival, they discovered evidence of gunfire, determining that shots were fired from a vehicle on Chesswood Drive, striking the window.”
Johnson said that since this incident, the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force, led by Inspector Paul Tkachuk, supported by the Hate Crime Unit, led by Inspector Roger de Roche, has been “working tirelessly to identify those responsible.”
Police charged Helder Antonio De Ameida, 20 with 11 alleged firearms offences and a 17-year-old male youth with firearm offences, property obtained by crime and failing to comply with release orders.
The male youth’s identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Johnson said he could not reveal the nature of the previous incident that led to the youth allegedly failing to comply with release orders.
“Both males, face multiple charges, including unauthorized possession of a loaded firearm, a Glock handgun modified to be fully automatic,” Johnson said.
He said it’s unclear at the moment whether both suspects discharged firearms at the scene.
No hate crime charges have been laid at this point in the investigation.
“While I can’t share details on the motivation behind this incident due to the ongoing investigation, we are thoroughly exploring why these two individuals committed these crimes and any connection to the previous shootings at this school on May 25,” Johnson said. “I can assure you that if we find evidence that this is motivated by hate, we will explore the aggravating nature of this with our partners in the ministry.”
The first firearm discharge incident happened at Bais Chaya Mushka school in May, though the incident is still under investigation.
Johnson told reporters that the fact that the shootings occurred at the same address was the only obvious connection he was able to comment on at the time and that the school was targeted twice and that this time it was on Yom Kippur made it “even more devastating.”
“The safety of our community remains our top priority, particularly as global tensions rise and the Jewish community observes the High Holidays,” said Johnson. :The safety of the Jewish community and all communities in Toronto remains our top priority. Our increased police presence will continue as long as necessary.”
Chief Myron Demkiw, who is in Boston at the International Association of Police Chiefs conference, reiterated that investigations are ongoing and charges can be laid at any time, whether immediately after the incident or in the days and weeks that follow.
Demkiw vowed to increase police presence in Jewish neighbourhoods earlier this month as the one-year marking of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack approached.
Johnson noted that police have relocated a mobile command post to the school’s neighbourhood and are in “constant communication” with Jewish school administration, parents, and various groups to “help alleviate” safety concerns felt by the community.
“Since Oct. 7 (2023), we’ve arrested 167 people and laid about 411 charges. And so this is something that is problematic,” Johnson said. “This rise since October 7 is something that we had not anticipated or planned for, and it is a problem.”