Firearm Offences – Arrest: C22-244008

On October 20, 2022, at 4:48 a.m., Central District General Patrol officers responded to the 500 block of Spence Street for a report of shots that were heard.

Upon arrival, officers located a male suspect (wearing a balaclava) standing near the open rear door of a taxi cab parked in the middle of the road. The male refused to comply with police demands, and a conducted energy weapon (“Taser”) was used to take him into custody safely.

Two firearms were subsequently recovered from the back seat of the taxi. One was a sawed-off .22 calibre rifle, and the other was an improvised firing device resembling a handgun. Ammunition was also seized.

Officers also located a nearby residence that had been shot several times while occupied by an individual known to the suspect, but there were no reported injuries.

Members of the Major Crimes Unit continued with the investigation. It is believed the suspect had been involved in several other firearm-related incidents over the past month, leading to the shooting of the house on Spence Street.

- On September 29, 2022, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a male (in his 50’s) was shot and sprayed with bear spray after a group forced their way into a suite in the 400 block of Sherbrook Street. The victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition and later upgraded to stable condition. This incident was previously released on October 1, 2022.

- On September 29, 2022, at approximately 4:34 a.m., a group forced their way into a residence in the first 100 block of Westgrove Way. A female (in her 30s) had a firearm pointed at her, and a demand was made for her property. Bear spray was also discharged inside the house, affecting numerous people, including small children. This incident was also previously released on October 1, 2022.

- On October 11, 2022, at approximately 8:21 p.m., a male (in his 20’s) was driving in the 600 block of Alfred Avenue when a nearby cyclist pulled out a sawed-off rifle and fired the weapon – striking the front windshield of the occupied vehicle. The victim was not physically injured.

- On October 18, 2022, at approximately 3:20 a.m., a taxi cab driver in the 300 block of Mountain Avenue had a sawed-off rifle pointed at him, and a demand was made for his property. The driver, a male (in his 60s), tried to drive away, and a male suspect fired the rifle – striking the front passenger window and narrowly missing the driver. The victim was not physically injured.

- On October 20, 2022, at approximately 3:46 a.m., the door of an apartment suite in the 300 block of Mountain Avenue was shot several times. The suite was occupied at the time, but there were no reported injuries.

- On October 20, 2022, at approximately 4:26 a.m., a taxi cab driver picked up a fare in the 300 block of Mountain Avenue. As they drove away – the passenger produced a sawed-off rifle and fired it at a nearby apartment building.

A 17-year-old male has been charged with:

- Discharge a Firearm Into or At a Place in a Reckless Manner (x3)
- Discharge a Firearm with Intent (x2)
- Armed Robbery using a Firearm
- Pointing a Firearm (x2)
- Aggravated Assault
- Assault with a Weapon
- Break & Enter with Intent - Dwelling House
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
- Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order (x6)
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized (x3)
- Possession of a Weapon (x3)
- Fail to Comply with Condition of Undertaking (x9)
- Fail to Comply with Sentence (x8)

He was detained.