19-year-old charged with manslaughter after 2021 arson at North York restaurant
Posted June 10, 2022 11:47 am.
Last Updated June 10, 2022 12:30 pm.
A 19-year-old man wanted by police was arrested and is facing charges in an alleged 2021 fatal arson incident that killed an 18-year-old at a popular North York restaurant.
Toronto police say the incident happened in the early-morning hours of July 10, 2021, when crews were notified of a fire at Slam Restaurant in the Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West area.
When first responders arrived on the scene, they located a man suffering from critical injuries sustained in the fire. He was pronounced dead in a local hospital.
That man was identified as 18-year-old Shahriyar Safarian of Richmond Hill.
Investigators determined that the fire was set deliberately and the homicide unit took over the case. A few weeks later, an arrest warrant was issued for 19-year-old Arian Ghasemmanesh.
On Thursday, officers located Ghasemmanesh and arrested him in the Parkway Forest Drive and Sheppard Avenue East area in North York.
Ghasemmanesh faced two charges, including manslaughter and arson (disregard for human life).
He appeared in court on Friday.
