12-Year-Old Out on Bail Charged With Attempted Murder in Ontario Shooting

York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween attends a press conference at the York Regional Police Headquarters in Aurora, Ont., on Jan. 31, 2024. The Canadian Press/Cole Burston

Police have laid several charges including attempted murder against a 12-year-old boy in connection with a shooting last month in Markham, Ont., that left a man injured.

York Regional Police (YRP) say the boy was out on bail at the time of his arrest.

Officers responded to a call on the afternoon of Aug. 14 of a man suffering from a gunshot wound outside his home in Markham, a city 30 kilometres northeast of downtown Toronto. 

Security footage from the area shows the suspect arriving at the scene in a grey Honda SUV, police said in an Aug. 15 press release. The suspect was described as a male with a slim build, wearing dark clothing and white gloves.

The victim was seated in an SUV in his driveway when a gunman approached and fired at him through the vehicle’s door, police said. The victim managed to flee by reversing out of his driveway, resulting in a collision with the suspect’s vehicle, which was driven by at least one other accomplice. The victim then contacted police.

Police have not provided details on a potential motive, but investigators have said they believe the shooting was targeted.

A 12-year-old suspect was arrested on Sept. 2 in connection with the incident and has been charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent, possession of property obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and two counts of breaching a release order.

“Once again, we’re seeing individuals released on bail involved in serious crimes within our community,” York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said in a Sept. 4 news release. “We must advocate for legislative measures which ensure violent and repeat offenders are kept off the streets, while also focusing on rehabilitating our youth, to ensure public safety, to protect our officers and to maintain public confidence.”

The suspect is also accused of breaching bail, which had been set for him on unrelated violent offences at the time of the Markham shooting, according to police. The boy’s identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The shooting follows a series of homicides and home invasions in the York Region and across the province in past weeks, which has renewed calls from police and politicians for federal bail reform.

Incidents include the Aug. 31 killing of a 46-year-old man who attempted to protect his children during a home invasion in Vaughan, Ont., as well as a home invasion and kidnapping in Markham on Sept. 1.

The Vaughan murder was described by Ontario Premier Doug Ford as “heart-wrenching” and comes amid ongoing calls from Ford and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre for tougher bail conditions for repeat offenders as well as more rights for Canadians to use self-defence in protecting themselves from criminals.