Killing of Ken Lee: Difference between revisions
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== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
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Each of the accused appeared at the [[Old City Hall (Toronto)|Old City Hall court]] on the day that they were arrested.<ref name=":2" /> They were later each charged with second |
Each of the accused appeared at the [[Old City Hall (Toronto)|Old City Hall court]] on the day that they were arrested.<ref name=":2" /> They were later each charged with second-degree murder on December 20.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Newton |first=Amanda |last2=Musa |first2=Paula |date=2022-12-21 |title=8 teenage girls charged with second-degree murder in fatal stabbing of Toronto man |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/21/us/toronto-stabbing-teens-arrested/index.html |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> At at December 29 court hearing one girl was released on bail.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-29 |title=One of 8 girls charged in stabbing of homeless man in Toronto granted bail |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/12/29/one-of-8-girls-charged-in-stabbing-of-homeless-man-in-toronto-granted-bail.html |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}</ref> The other seven appeared in court on January 5, 2023 via video link.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-05 |title=Bail hearing dates set for some teens charged in death of Toronto homeless man |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/bail-hearing-dates-set-for-some-teens-charged-in-death-of-toronto-homeless-man-1.6218364 |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Toronto |language=en}}</ref> CTV News noted that "only two parents of the seven co-accused appeared to be in attendance for virtual proceedings on Zoom" and that some of the suspects seemed confused, with one of their lawyers not present during an accused's questioning.<ref name=":9" /> Bail hearings for the seven suspects in custody have been scheduled for later in January 2023.<ref name=":9" /> |
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Tracy Vaillancourt, a [[Canada Research Chair]] in children’s mental health and violence prevention, noting the gender and age of the suspects, described it as atypical for adolescent girls to be involved in an event that could result in a charge of murder.<ref name=":5" /> Jooyoung Lee, a crime and sociologist expert on crime from the [[University of Toronto]] said that two high profile fatal attacks occurring on the same day can give the public the incorrect perception that crime is rising, which is the opposite of the trend in Toronto.<ref name=":6" /> |
Tracy Vaillancourt, a [[Canada Research Chair]] in children’s mental health and violence prevention, noting the gender and age of the suspects, described it as atypical for adolescent girls to be involved in an event that could result in a charge of murder.<ref name=":5" /> Jooyoung Lee, a crime and sociologist expert on crime from the [[University of Toronto]] said that two high profile fatal attacks occurring on the same day can give the public the incorrect perception that crime is rising, which is the opposite of the trend in Toronto.<ref name=":6" /> |
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Revision as of 17:22, 13 January 2023
| 2022 Toronto stabbing | |
|---|---|
 The intersection of York Street, University Avenue and Front Street | |
 | |
| Location | York Street, Toronto, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°38′47″N 79°22′58″W / 43.646319°N 79.382889°W |
| Date | December 18, 2022 12:17 am (EST) |
Attack type | Stabbing |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victims | 1 |
No. of participants | 8 |
A 59-year-old homeless man was fatally stabbed outside the Strathcona Hotel, on York Street, Toronto, at 12:17 am on December 18, 2022. Eight teenage girls were charged with his murder.
The alleged perpetrators are suspected of two prior violent incidents also in downtown Toronto the same evening and are understood by police to have associated via social media, but not met in person prior to the evening of the attack.
Background
The eight suspects, according to Toronto Police Service, were engaged in two violent incidents in the hours prior to the stabbing, one at St. Andrew subway station and another at the intersection of York Street, Front Street and University Avenue.[1]
Earlier in 2022, similar thefts that were also described as swarming attacks by police occurred in the same area of Toronto.[2]
Stabbing
The stabbing occurred at 12:17 am[3] on December 18, 2022 in downtown Toronto,[4] outside the Strathcona Hotel,[2] on the corner of York Street and University Avenue,[5] near both Union Station[1] and the Royal York Hotel.[5] Strathcona Hotel was converted for use as a shelter for homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Toronto Police Service reported that eight teenagers allegedly swarmed the victim over a three-minute period, repeatedly stabbing him.[4] The incident occurred hours before the nearby Vaughan shooting.[4] Bystanders summoned emergency services[4] to just north of Union Station. The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.[6]
Various weapons were found by police near the location of the stabbing.[7]
A witness told CBC News that she was with the victim prior to the attack and that the teenage girls attempted to steal her alcoholic beverage, before the victim tried to protect her from the teenagers.[6]
Victim
The victim was identified as 59-year-old Ken Lee,[8] who was living in a nearby homeless shelter.[4] Witnesses told CTV News that the victim was visiting a friend who was living at the Strathcona Hotel shelter.[9][10]
Police said that he was holding a liquor bottle at the time of the attack and that the theft of the alcoholic beverage was likely a motive for the attack.[11] Police also said they do not believe the victim knew any of the attackers.[11]
Witnesses to the attack told The Globe and Mail newspaper that Lee was an immigrant from Hong Kong.[5]
Perpetrators
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Eight girls aged between 13 and 16 years were arrested near the location of the stabbing just after midnight on the day of the attack.[4] Three of the suspects were aged 13, three were 14, and two were 16.[4]
According to police, the alleged perpetrators all lived in different parts of Toronto and had only met online via social media, not in person, prior to the day of the attack.[4][12] The girls lived in locations that included Scarborough, Etobicoke, downtown Toronto, and in the part of the 905 belt west of Toronto.[1]
Aftermath
Each of the accused appeared at the Old City Hall court on the day that they were arrested.[7] They were later each charged with second-degree murder on December 20.[12] At at December 29 court hearing one girl was released on bail.[13] The other seven appeared in court on January 5, 2023 via video link.[14] CTV News noted that "only two parents of the seven co-accused appeared to be in attendance for virtual proceedings on Zoom" and that some of the suspects seemed confused, with one of their lawyers not present during an accused's questioning.[14] Bail hearings for the seven suspects in custody have been scheduled for later in January 2023.[14]
Tracy Vaillancourt, a Canada Research Chair in children’s mental health and violence prevention, noting the gender and age of the suspects, described it as atypical for adolescent girls to be involved in an event that could result in a charge of murder.[1] Jooyoung Lee, a crime and sociologist expert on crime from the University of Toronto said that two high profile fatal attacks occurring on the same day can give the public the incorrect perception that crime is rising, which is the opposite of the trend in Toronto.[2]
Toronto Mayor John Tory said he was "deeply disturbed" by the killing.[15] Police Detective Sergeant Terry Browne said "I've been in policing for almost 35 years and you think you've seen it all...If this isn't alarming and shocking to everyone, then we're all in trouble quite frankly."[15]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Teens who allegedly stabbed homeless man may have been involved in other violent incidents that night". thestar.com. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ a b c d Isai, Vjosa; Onishi, Norimitsu (2022-12-21). "8 Teenage Girls Charged With Killing a Toronto Man". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "Ken Lee identified as victim of alleged stabbing attack by 8 teen girls in Toronto". Toronto. 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Toronto: Eight teenage girls charged with deadly stabbing". BBC News. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ a b c Freeze, Colin; Bielski, Zosia (2022-12-22). "Homeless man in fatal Toronto stabbing was a 'father and grandfather,' acquaintance says". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ a b Draaisma, Muriel (20 Dec 2022). "8 teen girls charged with murder in Toronto man's swarming death". CBC.
- ^ a b "Eight teenage girls charged in 'swarming' fatal attack of 59-year-old homeless man". thestar.com. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "Ken Lee, 59, identified as victim of alleged 'swarming' attack by teen girls in Toronto". CBC. 10 Jan 2023.
- ^ Woodward, Jon (2022-12-18). "Downtown Toronto stabbing escalated after dispute over liquor: witnesses". Toronto. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "HUNTER: Cops say alleged teen-girl killers swarmed victim 'like animals'". torontosun. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ a b Freeze, Colin (2022-12-20). "Eight teen girls charged with second-degree murder in stabbing death of homeless man". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ a b Newton, Amanda; Musa, Paula (2022-12-21). "8 teenage girls charged with second-degree murder in fatal stabbing of Toronto man". CNN. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "One of 8 girls charged in stabbing of homeless man in Toronto granted bail". thestar.com. 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ a b c "Bail hearing dates set for some teens charged in death of Toronto homeless man". Toronto. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- ^ a b "Police identify Toronto man allegedly stabbed to death by teen girls". BBC News. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
