Second Suspect Arrested In Shooting Death Of 11-Year-Old
Posted July 23, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two men are now in custody charged in connection with the shooting death of Ephraim Brown, who was killed early Sunday after being caught in the crossfire of two rival gangs in the Jane and Sheppard area. He had been attending a cousin’s birthday party at the time.
Twenty-one-year-old Akiel Eubank, a man police claim is an active gang member with the 5-point generals, is facing charges of 1st degree murder. He was collared after arriving at hospital with a flesh wound, apparently from the exchange of gunfire. Medical staff reported his injury to the police. After a short investigation involving the guns and gangs squad, Eubank was arrested and charged.
On Monday afternoon police nabbed a second suspect. Gregory Sappleton, 21, of Toronto, has also been charged with first degree murder.
The gun fight began after people who weren’t invited to the party began to show up. Police say around 60-70 people were milling around when an argument between opposing gang members turned into gunfire. Eleven-year-old Ephraim Brown was sitting on a fence when the shooting began. He was shot in the throat and transported to hospital, where he later died.
Toronto police are continuing their investigation and are looking for more individuals that were involved in the crime, says Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux.
“You’ve had approximately 24 hours to think about what’s happened and think about the devastating impact the murder of the 11-year-old child will have on the family and that particular community,” stated Giroux at a news conference. “Now I expect you to call us with regards to what you saw that day. The family have been doing their best with regards to enlisting help from people who are loyal to their family within the community and I now expect the community to do their part and step up on behalf of an 11-year-old who had nothing to do with the gang lifestyle and quite frankly was caught in the middle of a bad situation.”
A trust fund has been set up to help the family pay for the Ephraim’s funeral.
Donations can be made at any TD Canada Trust.
Branch #: 1476
Account#: 6337069
If you have any information in connection with any of these incidents, call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.222tips.com/.
