Man charged in Etobicoke homicide same suspect that shot K9 Bingo: police

Toronto police have identified the victim of a targeted shooting in Etobicoke and charged a man with second-degree murder — the same suspect connected to the fatal shooting of Bingo, a member of the K9 unit.

Officers were called to The Queensway and Kipling Avenue around 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 24, for reports of a shooting.

Authorities located one victim with life-threatening injuries. They were transported to a local hospital via an emergency run, where the victim was later pronounced dead.

On Thursday, police identified the man as 24-year-old Sophonias Haile of Toronto. Investigators arrested 44-year-old Kenneth Grant of Toronto. He’s been charged with second-degree murder.

A Toronto police spokesperson tells CityNews the 44-year-old Grant was the wanted man responsible for fatally shooting Bingo, a police dog that had tracked him down on foot following a report of an armed person.

Bingo, a K9 with Toronto police, lost his life in the line of duty on July 25, 2023. Police Chief Myron Demkiw/Twitter.

According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), police were at an apartment on Dixon Road on Tuesday, attempting to locate and arrest a man for second-degree murder. During that arrest, the man shot at police officers and then fled the scene.

The accused then fatally shot Bingo, and police opened fire, seriously injuring the armed man, now identified as Grant.

He was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. The SIU said the accused was in hospital with serious injuries following the Toronto police-involved shooting.

It’s unclear if Grant will face additional charges for Bingo’s death.