T.O. cops make 4 arrests, seize firearms after spate of weekend shootings

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Toronto Police announced multiple arrests and firearm seizures on Wednesday following a deadly long weekend on the city’s streets.

It comes a day after two suspects were charged following a shooting incident in Etobicoke last Friday.

Over the Labour Day weekend, police say three people died and several others were injured among an alarming 11 shootings throughout the city.

In a Wednesday update, investigators say four suspects have been charged and several firearms are now off the street.

In one incident, police say a man was apprehended and charged after officers investigated a call in the Lawrence Ave. E. and Victoria Park Ave. area just before 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Cops say that a man was investigated for assault and threats. Following his arrest, a firearm was allegedly found.

Hakim Irambona, 28, of Toronto, is accused of several firearm offences as well as two counts of assault, uttering threats, two counterfeit money charges and failing to comply with a release order.

In a second incident, a suspect was arrested and charged after a woman was assaulted twice in the city’s west end early Sunday morning.

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Police say officers responded to a call for an assault in the Sudbury St. and Queen St. W. area shortly after 2 a.m.

Cops allege that a man assaulted a woman and pointed a firearm at her on two occasions.

Following the man’s arrest, officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson firearm on the accused. A search warrant also led to investigators seizing an extended magazine, ammunition, an oxycodone pill and proceeds of crime.

A 21-year-old man is accused of six firearm charges, five assault offences including two for choking, robbery/theft with violence or threats of violence, drug trafficking and possessing proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000.

Police say the accused is not being named to protect the identity of the victim.

A third arrest involving a firearm was made by police in the city’s west end early Monday morning.

According to police, officers conducted an investigation in the Roncesvalles Ave. and Queen St. W. area at about 2:30 a.m. and arrested a man.

It is alleged that a loaded Glock 26 firearm with 10 rounds of ammunition was found in the man’s possession.

Shaheed Bacchus Ali, 42, of Toronto, is accused of seven firearm offences including four for possession contrary to a prohibition order, two counts of crack/cocaine possession for the purposes of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime.

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In another incident, police say officers recovered a firearm while investigating a stolen vehicle in North York early Tuesday morning.

Police allege the occupants of the stolen vehicle collided with a marked police car, which injured the officers, in the Jane St. and Wilson Ave. area just before 2 a.m.

The occupants then fled the scene on foot. However, a long gun with a barrel magazine was recovered from the vehicle.

Less than two hours later, police arrested and charged a fourth man on weapons offences in the downtown core.

Police say officers conducted an investigation in the Dundas St. E. and Mutual St. area at about 3:30 a.m.

Cops allege that officers investigated the driver of a vehicle and, during the probe, a loaded Smith and Wesson Semi-Automatic handgun and ammunition was found and seized from the vehicle.

Joseph Malu, 33, of Vaughan, is accused of seven firearm offences and having care of control of vehicle with cannabis in open packaging.

In a statement on social media, police say 10 suspects have been arrested, including one youth, while 10 crime guns were seized and 61 charges were laid in the past week.

They also say 491 illegal firearms have been seized this year, with 85% linked to the United States.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on any of these arrests or gun violence in general to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or online at 222tips.com.