Two suspects arrested in Barrie in connection with Toronto double homicide

Toronto police officials provided an update after two suspects were arrested in Barrie in connection with the double-homicide in Riverdale.

Two additional suspects are facing first-degree murder charges in connection with a double homicide in Toronto’s east end last month.

Police say 18-year-old Abdulrahman Zein and a 17-year-old male youth, both from Toronto, were arrested in Barrie on Monday on Canada-wide warrants.

A 17-year-old male youth from Toronto was previously charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting that left Quentin Caza, 18, and Jeremy McNeil, 20, dead.

Police were called to the scene on Bain Avenue near Logan Avenue, a residential area in the city’s Riverdale neighbourhood near The Danforth, for reports of gunshots shortly after 11 p.m. on April 15.

Officers arrived to find Caza and McNeil with gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later died. Police did not say which victim died at the scene and which victim died in hospital.

Caza and McNeil are the city’s ninth and 10th homicide victims, respectively, of the year.

Police haven’t said where exactly the victims were when they were shot. However, a vehicle riddled with bullet holes was observed at the scene before it was removed by police for further investigation.

The first suspect, described as a 17-year-old male who cannot be identified under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on May 3.

Investigators identified Zein and a second 17-year-old male youth as additional suspects on May 15 and issued Canada-wide warrants for their arrests. Police were granted a court order to briefly identify the second 17-year-old suspect, but that authorization has since expired.

Police say their arrests took place somewhere in Barrie with the assistance of Toronto police’s homicide unit, as well as local and York Regional Police. Both suspects are facing two counts each of first-degree murder.

‘Those responsible are being held accountable’

Det. Paul Shanly, of Toronto police’s homicide and missing persons unit, spoke to the media on Tuesday about the arrests and addressed the “great sadness and concern” in the Riverdale community following the shooting.

“Two young lives have been lost to violence and many lives have been changed forever,” he said. “We hope that these arrests offer some reassurance that those responsible are being held accountable.

Shanly couldn’t say if the suspects were known to the victims or if the shooting was gang related. He also could not say what the suspects were doing in Barrie at the time of their arrests.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.