Instead of candles, this birthday party had handguns.
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Lots and lots of them — and all illegally smuggled into Canada from the United States. So many, in fact, that this birthday gathering easily could ended up as a death day party — for dozens of people.
The city dodged a bullet. Actually, 54.
Police believe a video posted to social media showing people dancing to rap music and waving their guns in the air is related to this case and is a big part of their ongoing probe as they sort out the two rival gangs and the motive. While the guns were inside, police say, the shooting happened outside when a car came into the area with occupants who shot toward people exiting the party who in turn returned fire.
This was a war on the streets of Toronto. Dodge City or the Wild West are descriptors that have been used with this one. But others say it reminds of Chicago on any weekend or East Los Angeles. Toronto, say police sources, now has the same supply of American guns that those cities do. This is why we have had 116 more shootings this year over last year, according to Toronto Police statistics.
This incident all started with what is seen in this bizarre, brazen video taken at what was supposed to be a friendly birthday party. It was anything but.
By 11:20 p.m. on Nov. 11, Remembrance Day, the guns inside a recording studio at Queen and Sudbury Sts. wound up outside and lit up the night sky in such a way that had dozens ducking for cover, including two police officer in an unmarked car caught in the middle of this mayhem.
In the morning, bullet holes were noticeable in doors, windows and in the police car.
Staff Supt. Joe Matthews of Detective Operations said the city is fortunate no one was killed since “countless lives” were in the vicinity of this crossfire.
“It’s a miracle,” said Matthews, adding “bullets pierced through the front, back and sides of the (unmarked police) vehicle” and “narrowly missing the officers and riddling cars and surrounding buildings.”
Matthews added “what makes this situation even more alarming is the context in which these firearms were found. The individuals arrested were attending a birthday party at this location. Not only were they allegedly brazenly displaying these weapons on social media, but they also brought these firearms out into our streets, and engaged in a reckless exchange of gunfire.”
People at this party are said to have ranged in age from “16 to 30” and were not in the least worried about showing off their illegal hardware. The whole thing is both stunning and concerning.
Like rats, you see 16, but there are many others you don’t.
“These weapons serve as a stark reminder of the real and present danger that illegal firearms pose to our community, to innocent citizens, and to our officers who bravely respond to these incidents,” Matthews said.
Police seized 16 in this incident but not before 54 rounds went off. They managed to make the arrests before 50 more bullets in the chamber were set to fire.
“Many of the firearms seized were modified in order to be capable of fully automatic fire,” Insp. Paul Krawczyk of the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force explained to reporters.
Krawczyk and his team have been busy this year. They are as overworked as the public order officers out at protests every night. This was the 406th shooting incident of 2024 in which 40 have resulted in homicides. It’s lost on anyone how deadly this could have turned out.
Of the 23 arrested, eight so far have been charged — one of whom is a youth who has now been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting slaying of Matthew Bergart, 30, last spring in a residence along Lake Shore Blvd. W. As my colleague Brad Hunter reports today, the slain victim was a professional gambler. The young offender charged in his killing was also hit with extensive gun charges in this incident.
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Police now say two of the charged were on bail and one facing three gun prohibitions. But they are still investigating. More information is coming and more charges are expected. They have laid 72 so far.
So far, charged with many gun offences are Osman Aim, 21, of Toronto, Dante McGregor, 26, of Toronto, Lester Lamptey, 30, Nathaniel Browne, 24, of Oshawa, Samuel Bowen, 24, of Toronto, and Samina Adams, 24,. Ras Montague, 20, of Toronto, has been charged with two counts of fail to comply with recognizance.
They have all been held in custody and face court hearings this week. None of the allegations against them have been tested in court. But what has been tested is Toronto Police’s resolve to help make arrests and get guns off the street. They passed the test.
There were 16 firearms seized at this birthday party. But police know there’s more flowing across the border just in time for the next gathering in which Toronto may not be as lucky.