Man wanted for attempted murder convicted in 2012 Danzig mass shooting: Cops
Shaquan Mesquito, 31, served time for role in Toronto's worst mass shooting that left 2 dead, 23 others hurt
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The man wanted by police for a Friday night stabbing previously served time in prison for his role in the worst mass shooting in Toronto’s history.
On Wednesday, Toronto Police issued an arrest warrant for Shaquan Mesquito, 31, in connection with a stabbing Friday evening in the downtown core that sent a 30-year-old man to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The stabbing took place just after 10:30 p.m. near Yonge and Dundas Sts.
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Mesquito is wanted for attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Police consider him dangerous and warn the public not to approach him if spotted.
Toronto Police confirmed to the Toronto Sun that the suspect accused of the downtown stabbing is the same person convicted in the Danzig shootings.
Mesquito, then 18 and known as “Bam Bam,” was convicted as part of the deadly Danzig St. shooting on July 16, 2012, that left two people dead and 23 others injured.
The Danzig shootings began when members of the notorious Galloway Boys gang “took ownership” of a community barbecue in a townhouse complex near Morningside Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E. in West Hill.
A member of the rival Malvern Crew, Mesquito was not among a group of his fellow gangbangers who arrived at the barbecue to confront the Galloway Boys.
An agreed statement of facts read out in court said Mesquito, turned away from the party by an armed youth, told people en route to the gathering to reconsider attending, promising to return to “shoot it up.” He then attempted to recruit others to join him in exacting revenge from being kicked out of the barbecue, but nobody took him up on the offer and Mesquito never returned to the party.
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Originally charged with firearms offences and and threats, Mesquito’s charges were later upgraded to murder, attempted murder and 23 counts of aggravated assault — but at trial Mesquito pleaded guilty to four lesser charges.
In court, Mesquito wasn’t identified as one of the shooters on Danzig St., but was convicted for counselling two people to commit murder, as well as weapons offences. He was sentenced in 2015 to nine years in prison, minus 45 months for time served.
Anybody with information is asked to call police at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
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