Youth charged with murder, attempted murder in Rexdale mass shooting

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A 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in connection with a mass shooting of five men at the North Albion Collegiate parking lot in early June.

Toronto Police homicide Det.-Sgt. Phillip Campbell made the announcement at 23 Division on Monday.

Delroy “George” Parkes, 61, of Vaughan, died on the day of the shooting, which happened on June 2 at about 11 p.m. in the Kipling Ave.-Mount Olive Dr. area, and his close friend Seymour Gibbs, 46, of Toronto, died on June 5 in a hospital from “medical complications sustained because of his injuries,” police said.

Police said three other people were injured, while four others in the parking lot did not suffer physical injuries.

The youth was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

“These senseless acts of violence resulted in the deaths of two innocent people and families who will forever be devastated by the loss of their loved ones,” Campbell said.

Of the three surviving shooting victims, Campbell said one is still in a hospital in “very serious condition” and “has injuries that he will have to be dealing with for the rest of his life.” The other two are “devastated” and have recovered physically, but police said they will be dealing with the mental burden of the shooting.

Police said the group of men — some of whom had been together for 30 years — had been playing soccer before enjoying “socializing” time afterward, which included a barbecue and games of dominos. A dark grey pickup truck rolled up on the scene before two people allegedly emerged from it and “indiscriminately” shot at them.

Police said there was “no known connection” between the victims and the suspects.

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Supt. Ron Taverner, of 23 Division, called it an “incredibly unbelievable act” when speaking about the shooting.

“And innocent people lost their lives, many were shot, many were shot at,” Taverner said.

“And the result today is that of the 14-year-old youth being arrested.”

Campbell would not discuss a possible motive.

“I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that question,” said Campbell.

Campbell and Taverner said it is an intricate investigation that has been going on since the hail of gunfire that night. They also said the grey pickup truck had been stolen and was ditched the following morning after police spotted it.

The 14-year-old boy was arrested hours after the shooting, but no other suspects have been arrested, police said.

“I will say he was (allegedly) involved in relation to the stolen auto,” said Campbell.