Fireworks Used As Weapons In Multiple Toronto Incidents
Posted May 21, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
On Sunday night, several teens in the Markham Road and Eglinton area got dangerously creative with some fireworks, using roman candles as weapons and firing the usually skyward pyrotechnics at each other’s backs (pictured).
It was the third time in four years that the area has been host to similar events, and when CityNews went to investigate Monday afternoon, reporter Marianne Dimain and her camera crew became the latest targets in some alarming and exlusive video that police say is all too familiar.
“We’re finding out in the last few years that some of the people in that community seem to take pleasure in actually using the fireworks as weapons,” said Toronto Police Det. Shawn Mahoney.
“It seems that they’re not fearing the repercussions … if they are found, they will be arrested.”
If the culprits are apprehended they would be charged with mischief, but if someone were hit the charge would have been upgraded to assault with a weapon. Fireworks being used as tools for attack in a number of situations is growing more and more common, and part of the problem could be that it’s become far too easy for underage individuals to get their hands on the explosive materials.
In another CityNews exclusive, we sent a 15-year-old girl out to buy fireworks, and the teen had no problem procuring the items despite the fact that they came with warnings insisting only those over the age of 18 could purchase them. According to Toronto Fire Services, misuse of fireworks caused 43 fires last year and multiple injuries, most of which were suffered by minors.
For a look at all the exclusive video, click on the links above.
