Three young offenders are among four people arrested by Toronto Police accused of being guns-for-hire who waged war against unsuspecting tow truck drivers.
The 15 and 16-year-olds were arrested last month in connection to one homicide and 13 tow truck-related shootings that took place on Canada Day weekend, as others shot off fireworks.
A 17-year-old has also been charged after he allegedly opened fire on two parked tow trucks on May 15 near Markham Road and Steeles Avenue E. No one were in the vehicles.
Police said since January there has been 43 tow truck industry related shooting, arsons and firearm discharges in Toronto.
Glock weapon seized by police from teens.
Officers of a Tow Truck Task Force said a 15-year-old Oshawa boy, and 16-year-old from Stouffville, on July 15 were charged with first-degree murder in connection with what they say was a tow truck industry-related homicide.
Sulakshan Selvasingam, 28, was killed July 6 after being shot in a Scarborough parking lot.
Police allege the teens were responsible for 11 other shootings that took place between June 29 and July 14. Some 177 charges were laid in the arrests.
Detectives said gun crime decreased after the teens were arrested.
Torched tow truck being towed away for investigation.
They also arrested a 33-year-old man from Oshawa, who police alleged paid the teen to commit the shooting.
They were paid by others to shoot the tow truck drivers or burn their trucks in an ongoing war in that industry.
Chief Myron Demkiw said shootings and firearm discharges in Toronto have increased by 50 per cent compared to last year and 14 per cent of that increase is due to an ongoing tow truck turf war.
Youth firearm arrests in Toronto have risen 161 per cent over the past two years, according to police data.