Toronto sees ‘troubling’ rise in youth gun violence, fatal shootings

As detectives pored complete nan specifications of a “senseless” shooting successful nan parking batch of a Toronto schoolhouse connected June 2, they zeroed successful connected a young suspect.

Weeks aft nan shooting, Toronto police announced nan apprehension of a 14-year-old boy, charging him connected June 24 pinch 2 counts of execution and 7 counts of attempted murder.

His arrest, nan force’s main says, is portion of a increasing and profoundly worrying inclination that has seen weapon violence, peculiarly among young people, successful Ontario’s superior city.

Data released connected Wednesday shows that shooting events successful Toronto during nan first half of nan twelvemonth are up 58 per cent compared pinch past year, while nan number of fatal shootings accrued from 16 successful nan first half of 2023 to 28 truthful acold successful 2024.

“We are committed to doing everything we tin to support our metropolis safe,” Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw said Wednesday.

Youth engagement successful convulsive crime peculiarly appears to beryllium growing.

So acold this year, constabulary said younker firearm arrests are up 75 per cent compared pinch nan aforesaid play successful 2023 — pinch 114 arrests this year, compared pinch 65 nan twelvemonth before.

“It is very troubling erstwhile a young personification makes nan determination to prime up a firearm and propulsion nan trigger,” Demkiw said.

He called connected each levels of authorities to tackle nan rumor of younker unit “long earlier a young personification makes nan determination to get involved” pinch criminal activity.

While firearm discharges and fatal shootings are some up, Demkiw stressed nan mostly of gunshots reported successful Toronto are not fatal and do not needfully moreover deed a victim.

He said nan unit continued to push to trim weapon unit successful Toronto.

“We stay focused connected investigations and bringing those responsible to justice.”