A 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man are facing multiple charges after a series of unprovoked attacks. In the results of their violent attacks, a 62-year-old man died.
The attacks happened in the morning of Aug. 31. Police say that at around 6 a.m. a 62-year-old man was attacked near Queen street in Toronto. He was attacked with a weapon and was sent to the hospital. Although he was released from the hospital, he was found dead on Sept. 4.
Police say the man died from injuries he received from the attack.
“Early in this investigation, we learned that this homicide was part of a series of violent attacks that took place on the morning of August 31 in the downtown core,” Det.- Sgt. Stacey McCabe said in a news release issued Monday.
According to investigators, the first attack happened at 5:45 a.m. that morning. Police say the victim was sitting on the bench when he was attacked with a weapon unprovoked.
The second assault happened shortly after, at around 5:52 a.m. Police say a 70-year-old man was attacked with a weapon, also unprovoked. The suspects fled the scene after the victim fell to the ground, and was later taken to the hospital.
Timeline of alleged assaults. Photo provided by Toronto Police
After the deadly attack on the 62-year-old man, the suspects then robbed a 63-year-old man near Yonge street. Police say the suspects took the victims phone, and pushed him to the ground when he tried to resist. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say they arrested the suspects shortly after.
Isaiah Byers, 20, and a 12-year-old boy have been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.
The police have not notified the victims next-of-kin, so they are not releasing the victim’s identity.
Det.- Sgt. Stacey McCabe said that the first three victims were experiencing homelessness at the time. McCabe could not say why vulnerable people were targeted but called the situation concerning.
