8 teen girls charged with murder in stabbing of Toronto man who accessed shelter system

Toronto police say eight girls 16 and younger have been charged with second-degree murder after a 59-year-old man was stabbed in the city’s downtown core.

Investigators announced the charges during a news conference at Toronto police headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

Toronto Police Homicide Squad Det.-Sgt. Terry Browne said a Toronto Paramedic Services crew was flagged down by several people near where York Street, University Avenue and Front Street West meet at around 12:15 a.m. on Sunday.

He said the paramedics were told someone was being assaulted.

“I wouldn’t describe [the suspects] as a gang at this point, but what they are alleged to have occurred that evening would be consistent with what we traditionally call a swarming or a swarming-type behaviour,” he told reporters.

Browne said three of the girls had previous interactions with police, while the other five did not. He said three of the girls were 13, three were 14, and two were 16. Browne said the girls, who range in age from 13 to 16, met on social media and congregated on Saturday night in the city’s downtown core, where they were allegedly involved in two fights.

Paramedics rushed the victim to a hospital in life-threatening condition, but he died a short time later.

The man hasn’t been publicly identified yet since Browne said officers are still trying to notify his next of kin. However, Browne said the man recently accessed Toronto’s shelter system and had a “very supportive family in the area.”

He said the girls were arrested by 52 Division officers somewhere near the scene and that weapons were found.

RELATED: Man killed in early morning downtown stabbing; suspects arrested

He said the co-accused appeared in a Toronto court on Sunday and were remanded into custody. They will be back in court on Dec. 29.

Since the girls are under the age of 18, they cannot be identified due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Browne said investigators have learned they met each other through social media.

“They come from varying parts of the city … we don’t know how or why they met that evening and why the destination was downtown Toronto. We don’t know how long they have been acquainted,” he said.

Meanwhile, Browne said it’s believed the group was in the area after 10 p.m. on Saturday. At around 10:30 p.m., he said the suspects were involved in a separate altercation.

“These two interactions involved what would be described as criminal behaviour,” Browne said.

He appealed to anyone who may have encountered the co-accused to contact the Toronto police homicide squad.

News Release – Homicide #68/2022, York Street and University Avenue area, Male, 59https://t.co/90XPebStpZ pic.twitter.com/fj4Cfpkrew

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) December 20, 2022