Man arrested after elderly woman killed in brazen attack in downtown Toronto

Toronto police have a man in custody after he allegedly assaulted and killed an elderly woman in the city’s downtown core on Friday.

Officers were called to Yonge and King streets just after 11:30 a.m. for reports of an assault outside a restaurant.

Acting Insp. Craig Young said that the man pushed an elderly woman to the ground. Toronto police said the woman died as a result of injuries to her head and face, and the man fled the scene. He was taken into police custody a short time later.

Young said the man would be charged with aggravated assault, and pending the autopsy result, charges could be upgraded. The acting police inspector said the woman is believed to be in her late 70s or 80s and that the man in custody is in his 30s.

RELATED: Were you swarmed by teen girls on the subway? Police want to speak with you

It’s unclear if the female victim and the male suspect knew one another, Young said.

Young noted that the man in custody is believed to have committed other offences in the city, including property damage.

Toronto Mayor John Tory released a statement on the incident.

“Today we see another example of what appears to be a random violent attack on an innocent person in our city – something that has become far too common in cities across Canada,” Tory wrote.

“While the facts of this specific case have not been determined and made public, we all know that we need to do everything we can to determine the root causes of such acts.

“We need to invest more in mental health and addiction treatment – we need the provincial and federal governments to do that as soon as possible.”

Tory also said more police officers are needed downtown and across the city.

Earlier this month he proposed a $48.3 million hike to the police force’s budget to hire 200 more officers, including 25 focused on the downtown core.

Tory also introduced a proposed 2023 TTC operating budget this month that includes $4.4 million to hire 50 new special constable positions.

Adrian Ruiz, who lives near the intersection, said the assault, in addition to a string of violent incidents on Toronto’s public transit system in recent months, have him concerned for the safety of his wife and children.

“I’m very worried about my wife and my kids walking at night, riding the TTC. I hate driving, but now the TTC … It’s very, very dangerous,” said Ruiz.

“We’re considering moving.”

About an hour after this assault, police received reports of a man trying to push a victim onto the subway tracks at Rosedale Station. No injuries were reported, and that suspect was arrested.

Police tell CityNews the subway incident is unrelated to the fatal assault. There is no threat to the public.

Toronto police officers at the scene of a fatal assault where a man allegedly attacked and killed a woman. Photo: Mike Visser/CityNews.

Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report