Toronto police have laid murder charges after the worst public shooting in the city’s history, which left two dead and 23 others injured.
Toronto police have laid murder charges after the worst public shooting in the city’s history, which left two dead and 23 others injured.
Shequan “Bam Bam” Mesquito, 18, has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, police told the Toronto Star shortly before a press conference Thursday morning. Mesquito is also charged with attempted murder, reckless discharge of a firearm and 24 counts of aggravated assault, Staff Insp. Greg McLane told The Canadian Press.
The shooting occurred as hundreds gathered for a block party on Danzig Street, in the east part of Toronto, on July 17.
Police said in September that the Danzig Street shooting was linked to a gang that called itself the Galloway Boys. That gang has also been linked to three other murders and six other shootings in Toronto over the past year, police said.
Shyanne Charles, 14, and Joshua Yasay, 23, were killed in the Danzig Street shooting. Both were considered innocent bystanders.
Prior to Thursday’s charges, Mesquito was charged with uttering threats in July. Another man, Nahom Tsegazab, 19, has also been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm.