Toronto man charged with 2 counts of 1st-degree murder in shooting involving family members

A 23-year-old man is facing two counts of first-degree murder in a daylight triple shooting that also injured a third victim, all confirmed to be family members of the suspect, in the city’s downtown core.

The brazen shooting took place in the Parliament Street and Dundas Street East area of Regent Park at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

One man, believed to be the suspect’s father, was pronounced dead at the scene, and police said two other victims — the suspect’s brother and his mother — were rushed to a hospital, where the brother later died. The mother suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Two police officers were injured during a foot pursuit of the male suspect. One officer sustained an arm injury, and the other suffered serious leg injuries and was admitted to hospital.

The suspect was arrested in the area and has been identified as Benedict Johnson Kongolo of Toronto. He’s been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

“It’s the middle of the day in downtown Toronto… it’s certainly terrifying,” Det.-Sgt. Tiffany Castell said. “There were bullets flying everywhere. The fact that we didn’t have anyone else hit is a bit of a miracle.”

Neighbours say the family has lived in the home for more than a decade.

“I hear the mom saying ‘help, help,’ crying and when I came out she was bleeding,” said Hani Afrah, who has been a neighbour to the family for 13 years. Afrah says she ran into the woman’s house to grab the woman’s grandchild, believed to be two to three years old.

“I was so scared for my life but at the same time I saw the child, so, no I can’t just leave it there,” she said.

Afrah says the mother chased after he sons before another fatal shot was fired.

“I saw her son on the floor, lifeless. It’s sad.”

“They’re good people. They’re wonderful people and I hope that this does not stigmatize them,” said Walied Khogali Ali of the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association, adding he’s known the family through recreation and Ramadan meal programs. He says he was in touch with the youngest member of the family, who arrived home on Tuesday to find police tape and a murder scene.

“I just can’t fathom how it feels to come home and realize that you’ve lost your family members.”

Kongolo made a brief court appearance on Wednesday and will remain in police custody until another hearing scheduled for next week.

The shooting comes as the community recently celebrated a milestone, having zero gun-related deaths in 2023. Community leaders say it’s the result of a $2.5 million investment through the Regent Park Social Development Plan. However, the co-chair says funding for 2024 is not expected until the end of summer.

Caryn Ceolin contributed to this story