Salsa on St. Clair shooting suspect appears briefly in court

Jessiah Massaro-Gill, of Toronto, appears before a judge via video link on Aug. 11. Massaro-Gill is facing two counts of first-degree murder as well as five counts of attempted murder in connection with a July 11 mass shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival. (Alexandra Newbould/sketch)

One of two men facing charges in connection with the deadly Salsa on St. Clair shooting made a brief court appearance on Tuesday morning.

Jessiah Massaro-Gill, of Toronto, is facing two counts of first-degree murder as well as five counts of attempted murder.

Two men – 20-year-old Cesar Vernaz and 25-year-old Shaquan Quashie – were killed in the July 11 shooting, while five others attending the busy street festival were injured.

At a news conference announcing the suspects’ arrest last week, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said police believe the two deceased were “targeted.” He described the five others who were wounded as “innocent bystanders.”

Appearing at The Armoury Courthouse via video today, Massaro-Gill waited in a virtual prisoners’ box for about an hour before his matter was addressed, which only took a couple minutes.

He was asked to state his name, which he did – loudly - before a lawyer asked for the matter to be put over for two weeks.

Massaro-Gill was then remanded into custody.

He is facing several other firearm and drug-related charges and is set to return to court on Aug. 25.

Lewis Downey, 18, of Toronto, is also facing several charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the deadly shooting.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Janice Golding