Elderly man charged with 1st-degree murder after allegedly running over 3 family members in North York
Posted November 16, 2023 6:59 am.
Last Updated November 16, 2023 7:14 pm.
Police have charged an elderly man with first-degree murder after he allegedly intentionally ran over three family members with his vehicle at a North York apartment building.
Toronto police were called to the apartment complex on Cassandra Boulevard near Victoria Park Avenue around 12:40 p.m. Wednesday for reports of pedestrians being struck by a vehicle.
Three injured victims were found in the parking lot and rushed to a local hospital. A 61-year-old woman, identified as Karen Montague, was pronounced dead while two other victims — a man and an elderly woman — suffered serious injuries but are expected to survive.
The driver, identified as 79-year-old Ciro Garofano, was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody. He is facing three charges including first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Police have confirmed that Garofano was a family member of the three victims.
“We understand there is a familial relation with the four people involved in this,” said Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Brandon Price in an update on Wednesday evening. Investigators have not revealed the exact family relationship between the group.
Some neighbours tell CityNews the accused was known to have issues with several residents who lived at the complex.
“We have learned that this was an intentional act on the part of the arrested party,” said Price. “The parties involved are known to each other, there is no further ongoing risk to the public.”
The suspect, wearing an all-white jumpsuit, appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Thursday morning.
With files from Patricia D’Cunha and Lucas Casaletto
