Toronto police say they have arrested and charged a man accused of firing multiple shots at a Jewish-owned restaurant last week.<\/p>\n
Chief Myron Demkiw says the suspect was apprehended two days after the Friday morning shooting in part because police \u201ccovert assets\u201d had seen the suspect fleeing.<\/p>\n
Supt. Ryan Forde says officers were already in the area of Avenue Road and Brooke Avenue because Toronto police have ramped up patrols in Jewish neighbourhoods during Passover.<\/p>\n
He says officers were able to get a licence plate and a description of the vehicle the suspect allegedly fled in, which led to the execution of a search warrant in Brampton.<\/p>\n
Police say a 30-year-old Brampton man has been charged with four offences, including discharging a restricted firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm.<\/p>\n
Forde touted the \u201cproactive policing\u201d that led to the quick arrest, saying that having the right resources in place allowed officers to respond without delay.<\/p>\n
He said the motive behind the shooting remains unknown and that this is the second time this restaurant owner has been targeted.<\/p>\n
Demkiw said no injuries were reported in the incident but the shooting at the Jewish-owned business has had a \u201creal impact on people\u2019s sense of security,\u201d particularly in Toronto\u2019s Jewish community.<\/p>\n
The overnight shooting at the restaurant comes a month after three Toronto-area synagogues were struck with gunfire in a matter of days. No injuries were reported in those incidents.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, we send a clear message to whoever else is thinking of targeting our communities. We will do everything we can to stop you and hold you accountable,\u201d Demkiw said.<\/p>\n
The police chief noted that the force\u2019s newly formed counterterrorism and security unit played a role in the restaurant shooting investigation.<\/p>\n
Chief Supt. Katherine Stephenson said the unit will be involved in investigations where there is reason to believe that extremism or hate is a motivating factor.<\/p>\n
Hate-motivated crime charges have not been laid in this case but police did not rule out the possibility of further charges as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n
Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n