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‘An attack on an entire community’: Regent Park shooters given life sentences – Toronto

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Inside a packed downtown courtroom Tuesday, Superior Court Justice Gillian Roberts handed two young men found guilty of the first-degree murder of Regent Park Youth worker Thane Murray and the attempted murder of two of Murray’s childhood friends the maximum sentence possible.

Roberts explained that for both Noah Anderson and Junior Jahmal Harvey, the prescribed sentence for the first-degree murder of Murray is life imprisonment without eligibility for parole for 25 years.

The only live issue she had to consider was the appropriate sentence for the attempted murder of Tony Nguyen and Allen Uthayakumaran.

Roberts told court despite the youthful ages of Anderson and Harvey, who were 20 at the time of the shooting, the case involved planning, deliberation and extreme violence not seen in any of the cases pointed to by the defence in case law.

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Counsel for both Anderson and Harvey proposed a 12-to-15 year sentence for the attempted murders, to be served concurrently, but Roberts rejected their submission and imposed life sentences for both attempted murders.

“Fifty-nine shots fired in public, close to a park, with a lot of people around,” Rpberts said, speaking about the violence. “Indeed, this case seems to set a new high-water mark in terms of harm. The harm referred to in the attempt murder case law falls on a spectrum from no injury to grave life-altering injuries. The harm involved in this shooting is of a different order of magnitude, extending beyond the immediate victims and their family to the very fabric of the community. Indeed, as best as it is possible to understand why this shooting happened, it appears to have been an attack on an entire community.”


Click to play video: 'The trial for two men accused of murdering a Regent Park youth worker has begun'


The trial for two men accused of murdering a Regent Park youth worker has begun


It was Sept. 18, 2021 when Murray, a 27-year-old youth worker was sitting with Nyugen and Uthayakumaran, chatting and smoking, at the edge of a parking lot in the area known as the “swimming pool” in Regent Park.

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Around 8:45 p.m., four people walked south from Gifford Street and crossed Gerrard Street into Regent Park. They circled the swimming pool and then gathered themselves around a corner. Around 8:50 p.m., they attacked Murray and his friends in tandem, all four firing handguns as they chased the fleeing victims. The shooters then fled back in the direction they came.

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Police found 59 cartridge casings at the scene. Murray was shot 14 times and was pronounced dead on scene. Nguyen was shot in the foot. Uthayakumaran was shot nine times and was in a coma for three weeks and in hospital for three months.

Roberts told court there is no evidence that any of the accused knew any of the victims, nor is there any evidence that anyone would have a motive to hurt, let alone kill, any of the victims. Murray was a beloved employee at the local community centre and the surviving victims testified neither they, nor Murray, had any enemies.


Click to play video: 'Man who worked at Regent Park Community Centre fatally shot'


Man who worked at Regent Park Community Centre fatally shot


Roberts said she was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Anderson and Harvey, together with Rajahden Angus-Campbell — who remains at large on a Canada-wide warrant wanted for the first-degree murder of Murray — wrote “Peppered,” a rap song about the shooting.

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“The first draft of the rap song appeared on Mr. Anderson’s cell phone within nine days of the murder. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Harvey were in a recording studio working on the tap within 10 days of the murder. Three of the four suspects (Mr. Anderson, Mr. Harvey, plus suspect Angus-Campbell) were credited as writers. The lyrics describe an event that sounds remarkably similar to the murder,” said Roberts.

The lyrics include “your block is getting peppered” where they “catch one,” “a head shot, he had a seizure” leaving him “DOA.” Roberts noted that Murray had no vital signs when first responders arrived and was face down with his eyes open.

Another part of the song refers to “RP killas,” which the Crown argued was an acronym for Regent Park.

The judge noted that while Anderson filed 34 character references which attested to his good character, the youngest of five children who was runner up to be Valedictorian in high school, she noted that many of the letters did not refer to the offences.

“The letter from Mr. Anderson’s father, who was in court throughout the trial, provided the most detailed and stark example of the deep disconnect between the jury’s verdict and the Mr. Anderson he knows and loves,” Roberts wrote.


Click to play video: 'Crime Beat Most Wanted: Who is Rajahden Angus Campbell?'


Crime Beat Most Wanted: Who is Rajahden Angus Campbell?


Roberts found that Anderson’s role in the shooting was overwhelming, consisting of a “water-tight constellation of circumstances including animus, opportunity, means and after the fact conduct,” she wrote.

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“The evidence establishes that Mr. Anderson played a leadership role in organizing the shooting: he rented the car the shooters used; he rented the hotel room used as a staging ground; his cell records strongly suggest he scouted the area in advance; he drove to and from the shooting; he coordinated the writing and production of ‘Peppered,’” she added.

The judge wrote Anderson’s integral role in this shooting limits the weight she could place on the character letter he provided.

Roberts said she was satisfied that only a life sentence for the attempted murders will provide adequate denunciation and deterrence given the extremely serious circumstances of the offences and the profound harm caused.


Two other alleged shooters remain before the courts: Jabreel Elmi was arrested in January in Saskatchewan after being at large for more than three years and has yet to go to trial. Angus Campbell is still wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.

Murray’s parents told Global News outside court they vow to be there for Elmi’s trial and are anxious for Angus Campbell to be apprehended.

“If you know where he is, turn him in. He’s going to get him caught,” said Randy Hamilton, Murray’s father.

Murray’s mother left court in tears Tuesday.

“It’s been almost four years. It’s so hard. Just hearing the details of what happened, it’s very difficult to hear,” Dawn Murray added.

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Kirk plays hero, steals first base in Jays’ win

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TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s late-game heroics resulted in three deafening ovations from the 42,260 inside the Rogers Centre on Friday.

The first roar arrived in the seventh inning when the Toronto Blue Jays catcher smacked an opposite-field two-run homer to right.

The next inning, the sellout crowd cheered as Kirk delivered a bases-loaded single to left field to score the game-tying and game-winning runs.

But the most thunderous praise from the faithful came when Kirk caught the Texas Rangers by surprise and stole his first career base.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Kirk said through an interpreter after the 6-5 win. “Then I turned around and saw myself (standing at second base) on the scoreboard.”

The Blue Jays celebrated along with their low-key teammate’s first stolen base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pulled the base out of the ground and presented Kirk with the keepsake.

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Kirk stated the memento will soon be on display in his home. He also admitted he was surprised when first-base coach Mark Budzinski told him to steal second.

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“I looked around and said, ‘Are you serious?’” Kirk said.

Budzinski was serious. Kirk made history. He was holding on to the base during his post-game interview.

“The fact that he was holding it on the field post-game is even better,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I think they’re authenticating it.”

Although Toronto starter Chris Bassitt endured a difficult outing, lasting only five innings and giving up an early three-run homer, his night ended on a high note, watching his battery mate’s late-game wizardry.

“He’s catching (all-time base stealing leader) Rickey (Henderson) slowly,” Bassitt said with a smile.

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Kirk hit his homer with an 0-1 count and his single with a 1-2 count.

“Kirk, the hitter, is pretty hard to face,” Bassitt said. “So I hate to say it, but I expect it from him. There are not many guys on our team that I’d rather have up than him because he can do damage with any kind of pitch.

“I’m always happy when he’s up late in big situations.”


This was the American League East-leading Blue Jays’ 39th comeback win of the season, and second in as many games after Guerrero belted a game-winning two-run homer in the seventh inning for a 2-1 win against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

“I think the more you do it, the more comfortable you are when you’re in that situation,” Schneider said. “It’s not luck. It’s hard to do, but like anything, the more you do it, the better you get at it.”

Springer, Bieber updates

George Springer homered in the second of three at-bats in his rehab start for triple-A Buffalo on Friday and could return to the Blue Jays lineup on Saturday.

Righty Shane Bieber pitched seven shutout innings in Buffalo, striking out four with six hits and no walks on 90 pitches.

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Bieber could make his Blue Jays debut next week, likely on the road against the Miami Marlins next Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.

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Kirk’s heroics lift Blue Jays past Rangers 6-5

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TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk followed a two-run homer in the seventh inning with a game-winning two-run single in the eighth to push the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-5 comeback win in the series opener against the Texas Rangers on Friday.

Kirk’s single with the bases loaded allowed the Blue Jays (72-51) to overcome a three-run deficit. Before Kirk’s deciding at-bat, Texas reliever Phil Matton (2-5) walked Daulton Varsho with the bases loaded to pull the home team within two runs before 42,260 at Rogers Centre.

Kirk and Rangers infielder Marcus Semien traded two-run homers in the bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth.

Reliever Louis Varland (4-3) registered the win with Jeff Hoffman notching his 28th save.

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Jacob deGrom pitched five shutout innings, allowing only two hits with no walks and five strikeouts as the Rangers’ (61-62) losing streak was extended to three games.

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Kyle Higashioka hammered a three-run homer in the second inning.

The three-run blow was one of only four hits off Toronto starter Chris Bassitt, who lasted five innings on 100 pitches and matched a season-high four walks with four strikeouts.

Blue Jays right fielder Nathan Lukes made a pair of defensive gems early. With his back against the wall, he jumped to take an extra base hit away from Joc Pederson in the first inning.


In the second inning, Lukes fielded Evan Carter’s rocket off the wall and caught the Rangers outfielder at second.

Takeaways

Rangers: They began the day 3 1/2 games back of the final American League wild-card spot.

Blue Jays: George Springer homered in the second of his three at-bats in his rehab start for triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Shane Bieber pitched seven shutout innings in Buffalo, striking out four with six hits and no walks on 90 pitches. Springer is expected to rejoin Toronto on Saturday, and Bieber could make his Blue Jays debut next week.

Key Moment

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Kirk’s bases-loaded single in the eighth inning scored the tying and go-ahead runs.

Key Stat

Bassitt still hasn’t suffered a loss at home in 2025, going 8-0 with six no decisions.

Up Next

Lefty Eric Lauer (7-2) will face Texas southpaw Patrick Corbin (6-8) in the middle outing of the three-game set on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.

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No grounds for charges against Toronto officers after teen fatally shot: SIU

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The Special Investigations Unit has concluded that there “are no reasonable grounds to believe” either officer committed a criminal offence in the death of a 16-year-old boy following an exchange of gunfire with police.

In the 10 seconds from when the first shot was fired by the teen to when the gunfire ceased, more than two dozen total rounds were fired, according to the SIU report released Friday.

The April 20 incident drew widespread attention when it was learned the deceased was just 16 years old, and after video from the incident was released to the media, prompting the Toronto Police Service to launch a professional standards investigation.

The 16-year-old was shot during a traffic stop near Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West at around 11 p.m. and died in hospital the following day.

According to the SIU report, a red Infiniti G35 two-door coupe was driving eastbound on Sheppard Avenue West when it was pulled over by a police officer east of Bathurst Street, next to the apartment complex at 569 Sheppard Ave. W. There were six people in the five-occupant car, including the victim, or Complainant, who was sitting in the back right of the vehicle with someone on his lap.

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The SIU said the female driver told police the vehicle was not hers, but belonged to an acquaintance, and that the officer asked them to wait while he went to his cruiser to run checks on her licence. He returned and said he smelled cannabis in the vehicle and that he wanted them to step out so it could be searched. Two more officers had arrived at this time and were standing at the passenger side of the Infiniti. The driver and front passenger exited the vehicle and the female passenger on the victim’s lap exited as well, leaving three people in the back of the vehicle, the report states.

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“The Complainant subsequently moved as if he was about to exit the Infiniti when he suddenly reached to his left with his right hand before swinging his right hand to the right in the direction of the open door. He was in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, which he fired once or twice at (an officer),” the SIU said.


That officer then drew his firearm, as did the officer by the driver door. An autopsy found that the complainant died of gunshot wounds to the head.

SIU director Joseph Martino writes in his decision that when the 16-year-old began shooting at police, “the officers could only have concluded that their lives were in immediate peril and that action of some type was imperative if they were going to survive.”

However, he notes that the 14-16 rounds fired by one officer and 10 or 11 by the other “contributed to an incredibly dangerous situation,” especially considering there were two other passengers still in the vehicle, the officers were firing across from each other, and there were three others who exited the vehicle but were still nearby.

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“The number of shots fired by the officers is worthy of scrutiny, but is understandable in the final analysis given the evidence that the Complainant discharged his firearm three or four more times after the officers first started to fire.”

Martino also noted that the police were not firing “indiscriminately” as the trajectory of bullets showed the gunfire was generally aimed at the complainant.

Both subject officers declined an interview with the SIU, nor did they provide notes, “as is the subject official’s legal right,” the SIU explained. Two civilian witnesses and five witness officials were interviewed as part of the investigation, which also took into account police body camera footage, in-car camera footage, surveillance video from the area and police radio communications.

Meanwhile, Toronto police said in April that five people had been charged in connection with the traffic stop: a 20-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman, two 17-year-old girls and a 16-year-old girl.

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