Toronto Police nab teenage gunman in Parkdale for killing Long Branch man.
A young offender accused of shooting to death a Long Branch man was part of one of the City’s worst gunfight in which more than 100 shots were fired.
The 16-year-old from Brampton is charged with the killing of professional poker player Matthew Bergart last April.
Toronto Police said the teen is among 23 people in custody on connection with a gunfight between two gangs in which two officers were trapped in the middle.
The gunfire erupted in the area of Queen Street West and Sudbury Street last November 11 at around 11:20 p.m.
A teenager is charged with the killing of Long Branch poker player Matthew Bergart.
Police were in the area for an unrelated investigation when the gunfire broke out.
Police said occupants of a stolen vehicle pulled up to a recording studio in the neighbourhood and three suspects exited the vehicle, opening fire on a group who had gathered outside the building.
“This brazen act of violence escalated into an exchange of gunfire between two groups,” police said.
The bullets struck an unmarked police cruiser with plainclothes police officers inside, she added.
Police arresting a car theft suspect at 100-shot gunfight in Parkale in which an alleged teen killer was arrested.
Despite the barrage of bullets, no one was injured during the shootout, police said.
As the suspects attempted to flee the scene officers boxed in the stolen vehicle and one of the occupants was arrested after a brief foot pursuit.
So far 105 charges have been laid and warrants issued for nine others as part of Project Poppie.
“This incident was an audacious and reckless exchange of gunfire in downtown Toronto,” Supt, Paul MacIntyre told the media on January 23. “It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was injured or killed, including innocent civilians and our officer.”
The 16-year-old gunman was among one of two gangs involved in shootout in which police officers were trapped inside their cruiser.
Police seized 16 illegal firearms in garbage containers and other areas that were ditched as the gunmen fled the scene. Some of the firearms seized were modified in order to be capable of fully automatic fire.
The teenager nabbed at the wild shootout scene was charged with second degree murder into the death of Bergart at his Long Branch home.
He also faces five other serious gun related offences.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the officers performing a bail compliance check were inside a cruiser “found themselves in the middle of a gun fight.”
“Their unmarked vehicle was struck multiple times, and we are very grateful that none of our police officers got hurt,” he said. “Gun fire in our public spaces must be recognized for the harm it causes not just for those involved directly, but for by-standers and the public at large.”
Charges were stayed against eight people of 23 initially charged, police said.
Three of those sought on warrants are young offenders and the other are aged from 18 to 17 and are from Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.