YOUNG GUNS: Three teen boys accused in string of tow truck war shootings
Toronto cops believe adults are exploiting youths, paying the young guns to do their dirty work
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Three teenage boys suspected of being guns for hire face charges for more than a dozen shootings tied to the city’s ongoing tow truck war – one of which was deadly.
And a man accused of orchestrating one of the shootings also faces charges, but he was already released on bail.
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Toronto Police held a news conference Wednesday to reveal the latest details of Project Beacon, a task force launched on June 27 to combat the rise in gun crime within a segment of the towing industry.
“From shootings to arsons to mischiefs, this industry – which plays a critical role in maintaining traffic flow in our city – has been tainted by violence,” Chief Myron Demkiw said.
He said firearms discharges and shooting events in Toronto have jumped by 50% so far this year compared to the same period in 2023.
“We believe that 14% of these shootings are related to an ongoing territory dispute involving a small segment of the tow truck industry,” Demkiw said. “While many of the shootings that are occurring are firearm discharges targeting buildings or vehicles, there have been two homicides related to this dispute and several people injured.”
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Since Jan. 1, the police chief said there have been 43 tow truck-related shootings and firearm discharges.
“We strategically deployed resources to address these violent crimes and today we are announcing four significant arrests resulting in 177 criminal charges,” Demkiw said.
Staff-Supt. Joe Matthews explained two boys, 15 and 16, who were arrested by the OPP last month, now face charges for a deadly “tow truck-related” shooting that occurred in Scarborough on July 6.
Sulakshan Selvasingam, 28, of Pickering, was “shot repeatedly while sitting in his car” in the area of Warden Ave. and Ellesmere Rd., he said.
The killers fled the scene and the victim was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Matthews said the two youths accused of Selvasingam’s murder are believed to be responsible for 11 separate shootings between June 29 and July 14 – with eight of those shootings taking place over a two-day span during the Canada Day long weekend.
“Three different stolen vehicles were used in their 16-day violent crime spree,” he said.
Two boys, 15 and 16, were arrested on July 15 after OPP officers spotted them in a stolen vehicle and pulled them over, Matthews said, adding the pair was also caught with a stolen Glock handgun.
“At the time of their arrests, one of the youths was on a release order by the courts not to be in possession of a weapon and the other was on a (court-ordered) weapons prohibition,” he said.
The 15-year-old and 16-year-old face a total of 154 charges, including one count each of first-degree murder.
And Matthews said police have seen “a significant decrease” in shootings related to the towing industry since their arrests.
He said a third youth, a 17-year-old boy, has been charged with six offences for allegedly shooting up two tow trucks that were parked near Markham Rd. and Steeles Ave. E. – in Scarborough – on May 15.
“Also, as a result of this investigation, we allege that this youth was being paid to commit the shooting and was directed to where the tow trucks would be by another person,” Matthews said.
The adult suspect – Jamal Sayed Waizi, 33 – was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Matthews said the Oshawa man “has since been released by the courts.”
He said the three youths, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, remain in custody.
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“Youths are being targeted to commit the actual acts that other people want done out on the streets,” Matthews said, explaining the three boys charged have no direct connection to any tow truck company.
“The motive behind using youth is likely because the consequences they faced would be significantly different,” he speculated. “It’s also because they are able to entice them with smaller amounts of money to do these acts.”
Matthews said the “common thread” in the tow truck-related shootings involving youths is “money.”
“I think that it’s difficult for young people to really comprehend the consequences of their actions, so the immediate gratification of the money is enticing them to commit the acts of violence,” he said.
Demkiw said the “service-wide approach to tackling gun violence” is ongoing and he promised to ensure officers “have the tools and resources they need to dismantle criminal networks.”
“We know that getting a gun off the street or apprehending someone who has used a firearm is good police work,” he said. “However, intervening to prevent someone from resorting to violence is always our goal.”
“It’s time for bold actions by all stakeholders to address this pressing issue impacting our young,” Demkiw added.
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