Ontario man charged with homicide in 2016 death

A man from Ontario police believe was responsible for the shooting death of another man last year has been arrested and charged. The 24-year-old Brampton man was arrested on Oct. 26 for his alleged connection with a homicide that caused the death of a 20-year-old man outside a nightclub in April of last year. The man now faces a charge of second-degree murder and is currently in custody awaiting trial.

According to the police report, the victim was found shot around 1:30 a.m. the morning of April 17, 2016, apparently after being denied access to a hookah lounge that has since been converted into a daycare. The man had no gang affiliations or known criminal connections, but police nevertheless believed he may have been targeted in this incident. In the days following the shooting, they released surveillance footage that showed a white sedan driving back and forth in front of the lounge before speeding away after the shooting.

By September, police believed they had located the murder weapon, but it would be another full year before they arrested their prime suspect. Police are still interested in taking witness testimony, as the sidewalk was very busy the night of the murder. The suspected man was set to appear in court on the morning of Oct. 30.

A homicide charge is not to be taken lightly, but Ontario police will have their work cut out for them in proving the 24-year-old man’s guilt. Considering the amount of time that passed between the incident and his arrest, defense representation will want to make a thorough accounting of the investigation and subsequent arrest to assess whether police procedures were conducted in accordance with due process. Defense will also review any evidence, including the alleged murder weapon, to determine its viability and relevance to the pending charges.

Source: The Toronto Star, “Man charged with second-degree murder in 2016 shooting on the Danforth“, Emma McIntosh, Oct. 26, 2017