Toronto police say a 27-year-old man who recently fled to Nova Scotia has been charged in connection with the first-degree murders of three people, including a 12-year-old boy who was an innocent bystander during a north-end shooting.
During a news conference at 31 Division Tuesday afternoon, Homicide Squad Insp. Hank Idsinga told reporters the accused in the case was arrested after getting off a plane in Halifax on Thursday after officers “developed the grounds” to proceed with the arrest.
The arrest of the accused came on the same day when Toronto police announced two suspects were charged with first-degree murder of 12-year-old Dante Andreatta Marroquin.
Andreatta Marroquin was walking with his mother near Jane Street and Stong Court, north of Finch Avenue West, at around 2:20 p.m. on Nov. 7 when shots were fired by people in one vehicle toward another vehicle. Police said he was hit by a stray bullet. Four others were also injured.
It was alleged on Tuesday that the 27-year-old suspect drove the vehicle carrying those suspects.
Idsinga said the accused was also charged in connection with the murders of 21-year-old rap artist Dimarjio Jenkins, also known as Houdini, in May and of 27-year-old Hamdi Zakarie in October.
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“His role in facilitating those murders was that of the driver of the vehicle,” he said.
Police announced on Tuesday Toronto resident Cjay Hobbs was charged with three counts of first-degree murder after being brought back to Toronto from Nova Scotia. He is set to appear in a Toronto court on Wednesday.
Idsinga said investigators are still trying to determine who fired the shots that struck Jenkins and Zakarie.
He said surveillance video and tips from community members were instrumental in advancing the investigation, adding a dozen officers are still probing the shootings. Idsinga said there is an increase in violent criminal activity in Toronto.
“Members of the community were obviously shocked and outraged at not only the murder of Dante, but the murders of Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Zakari,” he said.
“I think there’s a lot of gang activity that’s happening right now and a lot of firearm activity that’s happening right now in the city as a whole.
“I think the community is getting frustrated and fed up with the gun crime in the city. I think we’re getting some more political support as well and that helps both provincially and municipally, and hopefully federally as we all know that conversation is ongoing.”
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