A young man and a teenage boy face charges stemming from a violent robbery involving a handgun in North York on the weekend.
Toronto Police say officers responded to a call for a person with a gun in the area of Sheppard Ave. W. and Yatescastle Dr. – east of Jane St. – around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The victim had arranged to meet with someone to sell an item, Const. Shannon Eames said in a statement Wednesday.
However, she said the seller and would-be buyer became embroiled in an altercation.
“During the altercation, a firearm was seen,” Eames said.
The victim pushed the assailant off but the would-be buyer then fled without paying for the item.
“The victim was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” Eames said, adding officers from the Major Crime Unit in 31 Division commenced an investigation into the robbery.
“As a result of the investigation, officers identified the suspect involved and set up surveillance in the area,” she said, explaining officers subsequently located a suspect getting into a vehicle, then stopped the vehicle and arrested two occupants.
The stolen property and a loaded Glock 26 handgun were found inside the vehicle and seized, police say.
A 17-year-old Toronto boy, who can’t be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and a 20-year-old Toronto man, whose name was not released, were arrested.
The boy is charged with robbery with a firearm, assault causing bodily harm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, careless storage of a firearm, possession of loaded restricted firearm, possession of property obtained by crime and failure to comply with an undertaking.
The man is charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, careless storage of a firearm, possession of loaded restricted firearm, possession of property obtained by crime and failure to comply with an undertaking.
Both accused were scheduled to appear in court for bail hearings on Wednesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-3100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).