18-Year-Old Man Charged in Vaughan and Toronto Synagogue Shootings

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with shootings at synagogues in Toronto and Vaughan earlier this spring, police say.

The shootings occurred within hours of each other in March, first in Vaughan, Ont., then in Toronto.

The first shooting occurred just before midnight on March 6. Sounds of gunshots were reported near Clark Avenue West and York Hill Boulevard in Vaughan. Officers responding to the scene found the front doors of the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue had been hit by gunfire.

Two people were in the synagogue at the time but weren’t hurt, York Regional Police said in a May 6 press release.

The next shooting occurred just after midnight. Toronto police officers responded to reports of gunshots at the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue at Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue and found damage to the front entrance that was “consistent with gunfire,” police said.

No one was inside the Toronto synagogue and no injuries were reported.

An 18-year-old male of no fixed address faces nine charges in connection with the shootings, police said. His name cannot be released because he was 17 years old at the time of the shootings. Minors cannot be named due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Investigators secured a court order permitting them to release photos of their suspect last week. The court order was necessary because police believed him to be a youth, the Toronto Police said in a May 1 press release.

He is described as a black male between 6 feet and 6 feet, 2 inches, with a thin build and black curly hair. Police asked for the public’s help in identifying him.

Police have not said whether the suspect arrested was the same person shown in the photos they released last week.

The suspect has been charged with two counts of discharging a firearm into a place, two counts of mischief to property over $5,000, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possessing a prohibited device, careless storage of a prohibited device, and occupying a motor vehicle with a prohibited device.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court in Newmarket on May 20.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA) said in a joint statement that their organizations are “encouraged” by the arrest.

“We thank the Toronto Police Service and York Regional Police for their diligence and coordination in advancing this investigation,” the groups said. “Their work sends a clear signal that those who target our community will be identified and held accountable.”

The groups described the multiple shootings targeting synagogues as a “dangerous escalation” in violence.

“Strong and consistent enforcement of the law is essential,” the groups added. “The Jewish community, like all Canadians, must have confidence that acts of violence and intimidation will be met with serious consequences.” 

The Jewish community in Canada has faced increased levels of violence after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Several shootings targeting Jewish schools and places of worship have occurred in the Toronto region over the past few years.

The most recent synagogue shootings took place in the days following the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in late February. Several episodes of violence in the Greater Toronto Area after the launch of the joint operation. 

The U.S. consulate in Toronto and a Toronto-area gym owned by an Iranian-Canadian activist were targeted by gunfire. No one was injured.

Investigators said the joint Toronto-York police investigation into the March synagogue shootings is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.