Man, 57, charged with first-degree-murder in Yonge subway station death

Toronto police have charged a 57-year old with first-degree murder in the Yonge subway station death.

Homicide Detective Rob North said police were called to the station at around 10:15 a.m. and a man suffering from serious injuries. He died later at hospital.

The suspect was arrested at the scene and North said no other suspects are being sought. He has not been identified.

North said they have viewed the CCTV footage from inside the subway station during the incident.

Police are alleging both the suspect and the victim were waiting for the eastbound train when there is a brief interaction between the two before the victim is pushed in front of the train. There was no audio on the video.

Police say they are still trying to identify the victim, but say he is an Asian man believed to be in his 50s or early 60s with white hair. He was wearing blue running shoes, a white baseball cap and shorts at the time of his death. Police previously believed the victim was in his 20s.

North asked anyone who knows someone matching that description who they haven’t been able to get in touch with, please contact police immediately.

Police say there is no connection between the suspect and the victim.

North said he wanted to address the 7 to 8 people who police believe were direct witnesses to this murder based on CCTV footage. He is encouraging them to come forward to help the investigation.

He adds if anyone is struggling with witnessing this incident, they are welcome to contact victim services.

The suspect will appear on Tuesday in court at 10 a.m.

HOMICIDE ON TTC A RARE OCCURRENCE

When asked about past homicide investigations on the TTC, Ross said the “last time someone was intentionally pushed … in front of a subway, was in 1997 at Dundas station.”

Charlene Minkowski, 23, was hit by a train on Sept. 25, 1997.

Herbert Cheong, 41 at the time, was charged with first-degree murder, but eventually confessed to a lesser second-degree murder charge.

Cheong, a diagnosed schizophrenic, eventually received a long term sentence, with no parole possibility for 15 years. He told the court he’d been kicked out of his rooming house that day and was angry – so he decided to take his rage out on a perfect stranger.

 

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