News
Toronto Police announce 177 charges as part of Project Beacon

Aug. 26, 2024, Toronto, Ont. – Toronto Police Service Chief of Police Myron Demkiw was joined by S/Supt. Joe Matthews and S/Supt. Kelly Skinner to announce the results of Project Beacon, the Tow Truck Task Force.

In late June, the Service announced the creation of Project Beacon, which involved specialty squads, divisional uniform members and strategically deployed resources to address tow truck related crimes.

Today, the Service announced the arrests of four people and 177 charges laid in connection with one homicide and 13 tow truck related shootings as part of this initiative.

Since Jan. 1, 2024, there have been 43 tow truck-related shootings and discharges in the city.

The Service worked with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Durham Regional Police Service, and Peel Regional Police and encourages anyone with more information to call police or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.

“We have taken a dynamic, Service-wide approach to the troubling rise in gun crime and we believe 14 per cent of all firearm discharges and shooting events in our city are connected to an ongoing territory dispute involving a small segment of the tow truck industry,” said Chief Demkiw.

The four arrests and 177 charges are in relation to separate incidents that took place between May and July of this year.

On Saturday, July 6, 2024, police responded to a call in the Warden Avenue and Ellesmere Road area.

It is reported that:

• a 28-year-old male was located with gunshot wounds
• he was pronounced deceased in hospital

On Monday, July 15, 2024, with the assistance of the OPP, police arrested two youths, aged 15 and 16, and they were charged with First Degree Murder. It is alleged that during the arrest they were found to be in possession of a Glock handgun.

It is further alleged that:

• these two youths were responsible for 11 additional shooting incidents that occurred between June 29 and July 14, 2024, with eight of these shootings taking place over the Canada Day long weekend
• three different stolen vehicles were used by the youths during this period

As a result, they are facing an additional 154 charges in relation to these 11 shooting incidents.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, two tow trucks were parked in the Markham Road and Steeles Avenue East area.

It is alleged that:

• one suspect opened fire on the two parked tow trucks
• the suspect responsible was being paid to commit the shooting by a second person

No one was in the tow trucks at the time of the shooting, and one of the trucks sustained damage. A 17-year-old youth was arrested and is charged with six offences.