A 16-year-old has been charged with the savage murder of Long Branch’s Matthew Bergart.
Bad to the bone.
A young offender rounded up in a 100-bullet downtown gun battle has been charged with second-degree murder in a killing that stunned Long Branch.
The 16-year-old youth, who cannot be identified, was arrested with 22 others following a horrendous gunfight on November 12, near Queen Street W., and Sudbury Ave.
The teen, following Toronto Police checks, was charged with the April 25 murder of Matthew Bergart, 30, in the Long Branch Avenue and Lake Shore Blvd. W. area.
The professional poker player was shot multiple times after three suspects forced their way into a townhouse in the early morning hours.
Bergart was known as a professional poker player who took part in the 2019 World Series of Poker.
Bergart was known for playing in the 2019 World Series of Poker and one site listed his winnings at about US$19,000.
The suspects made a demand for valuables and the victim was shot after a struggle ensued, police said. Bergart died of his injuries.
The teen, who is a resident of Brampton, was under a firearms prohibition at the time of his arrest, police said. He cannot be identified as per the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The Long Branch townhouse complex where the horrific shooting took place.
Police said the boy was among 23 suspects who were arrested in Parkdale after a wild west shootout in which 100 shots were fired between two rival groups. A police vehicle with officers inside was also hit by gunfire.
“Bullets pierced through the front, back and sides of the vehicle, narrowly missing the officers and riddling cars and surrounding buildings,” Staff Supt. Joe Matthews said.
Officers said three occupants of a stolen vehicle pulled into a grocery store parking lot in the area, exited the vehicle, and began firing at a group who were gathering for a birthday party. The incident escalated to an exchange of gunfire between two groups.
Some 16 weapons were seized by police.