Toronto police say a 57-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder after a man was fatally struck by a train at Bloor-Yonge subway station on Monday.
“Our victim and our accused are about to get on the eastbound train which is approaching the station,” Det. Rob North told reporters late Monday evening while recounting the incident as it was seen on Toronto Transit Commission surveillance cameras.
“Our allegations at this time are that there’s some interaction between our accused and our deceased and our deceased is sort of pushed and falls under the train … the push happened very quickly.”
Officials said the incident happened at around 10:15 a.m.
A man was arrested by police and transit constables near the scene approximately 20 minutes later.
The accused, identified as 57-year-old John Reszetnik, appeared in a downtown Toronto court Tuesday morning and charged with first-degree murder.
North said no one else is wanted in connection with the incident. North said it doesn’t appear the men were connected in any way.
He said it appears there were seven or eight people who witnessed what happened. North said investigators are looking to speak with those individuals as the investigation continues.
North said police are still trying to identify the victim. He described the man as being Asian, in his 50s or 60s and having white hair and white eyebrows. North said the man was wearing shorts, blue running shoes and a white hat.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. North at 416-808-7400.
Meanwhile, TTC spokesman Brad Ross expressed condolences to the family of the victim and said the agency was fully co-operating with the police investigation.
At around 4:45 p.m., Ross said normal subway service resumed after trains had bypassed Yonge Station on Line 2 for most of the morning and afternoon.