‘Audacious and reckless’: 14 additional arrests made in West Queen West recording studio shootout

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) says 14 additional arrests have been made, and more than 100 charges are pending in a shooting from November that led to over 20 past arrests following a West Queen West shootout involving rival groups at a recording studio.

TPS Superintendent Paul MacIntyre shared the results of Project Poppie, an investigation launched following the shooting at Queen Street West and Sudbury Street on Nov. 11, 2024.

MacIntyre said on the night of the shooting, three armed individuals pulled up to a recording studio at 1196 Queen Street West just before 11:30 p.m. during a birthday party and opened fire on a group of people gathered outside.

The individuals at the recording studio returned fire, forcing the original three shooters to take cover behind an unmarked police cruiser with plainclothes officers inside, who happened to be in the area for a bail compliance check. As the three attempted to flee the scene, their stolen car was rammed by another unmarked police vehicle, forcing the trio to escape on foot.

The individuals who returned fire from the recording studio attempted to flee the scene by discarding their firearms in garbage bins as they left. Officers took several others inside the recording studio into custody while also recovering “numerous firearms.”

Surveillance video shows suspects with guns “treated like toys”

Eight of the 23 people taken into custody were charged in November, with 16 firearms seized at the time. Two of the eight arrested were out on bail at the time of the shooting while the teen was under a firearms prohibition.

Through Project Poppie, TPS investigators arrested and charged 14 additional suspects, including several perpetrators from Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga. Among them is an 18-year-old man and unidentified 17-year-old male youth.

Officers are searching for nine wanted suspects.

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“This incident was an audacious and reckless exchange of gunfire in downtown Toronto,” said MacIntyre. “It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was injured or killed, including innocent civilians and our officers.”

The age of those arrested in the shootout range from 16 to 32 years, including a youth from Brampton who was charged with second-degree murder in the April 25 shooting of Matthew Bergart.

TPS Inspector Paul Krawczyk referenced a “shocking” video shared during Thursday’s press conference in which multiple suspects are seen armed “with guns in their laps like they’re cell phones.”

“They’re dancing around, basically, with these guns. They don’t have a care in the world,” said Krawczyk.

“It’s like they don’t expect they’re going to get caught with this. Whatever we have done in society that has allowed these people to have the confidence to do this, I am not going to figure that out today, but something has allowed them to be this comfortable and post this on social media.”

The 14 arrested and charged include:

• Jahvon Myles, 18, of Brampton
• Hakeem Thomas, 23, of Toronto
• Tevon Hutchinson, 21, of Brampton
• Faisal Musah, 25, of Toronto
• Liban Guedi, 24, of Toronto
• Ajmain Rahman, 27, of Mississauga
• Trevaun Gregory, 19, of Toronto
• Ras Montague, 20, of Toronto
• Reggie Amankwa, 30, of Toronto
• Kristian Carter-Lopez, 23, of Toronto
• Firanz Toni, 32, of Toronto
• Jahneil Brown, 26, of Toronto
• Aisosa Osadebamwen, 19, of Toronto
• Male youth, 17

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Nine wanted suspects

TPS said nine suspects have been identified and are currently wanted in this investigation. Images of the suspects have been released, except for a youth whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

• Mohamud Kheyre, 28, of Brampton
• Caleb Odulate-Stewart, 25, of Toronto
• Olad Olad, 25, of Toronto
• Jahdane Hamblett, 22, of Brampton
• Jahmarley Smith, 23, of Toronto
• Dylano Williams, 25, of Toronto
• Johnary Walker, 19, of Brampton
• Noah Belnavis-Essue, 19, of Mississauga
• Male youth, 18

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With files from John Marchesan of CityNews