New BOLO Most Wanted
A man wanted for the murder of a Toronto soccer referee is Canada’s Most Wanted Individual.
On October 9, 2022, Edwin Alvarado, 49, was one of three men shot inside La Liga Sports Complex. He succumbed to his injuries.
At a press conference on May 1 at Yonge-Dundas Square, a reward of up to $250,000 was announced for information leading to the arrest of 19-year-old Cristian Adolfo Cuxum who is Bolo’s new #1 suspect.
Alvarado would have celebrated his 50th birthday today.
With her tearful daughter and son by her side, Alvarado’s widow – Alexandra Barrera – said she planned to hire a Vallenato band for the celebration as he liked the popular folk music genre from Colombia, a country he left three years ago to come to Canada believing it was much safer here for him and his family.
“Instead of preparing for that party, I am here,” said Barrera. “And instead of enjoying Edwin’s party with him later today, I will be visiting him at the cemetery. Edwin was all things good. He was respectful, dependable, kind and patient. He was enthusiastic about everything he did and always wanted to help people.”
Barrera said Alvarado was a teacher, psychologist and avid cyclist in Colombia.
“He loved cycling, he loved soccer and he loved me and our children,” she added. “He loved being a dad. And he was really, really a good one.”
Speaking directly to the suspect accused of the murder, Barrera said he destroyed their family.
“You destroyed our plans, our dreams, our sense of safety and our everything,” she added. “You cannot make that right. But, if you turn yourself in, you will allow us to take our next step forward in this nightmare. Maybe then, one day, we can answer the question that haunts us each day. And to everyone watching this, if you know where this wanted man is, please call in a tip. Help us move forward. Help us feel safe again.”
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw thanked Barrera for her courage in coming forward to share her statement.
“It could not have been easy, especially on a day that was meant to be a celebration of Edwin’s birthday,” he said. “I hope that through today’s Bolo event, we are able to apprehend the man responsible and give your family some closure.”
Two-time convicted killer Rabih Alkhalil and Kiarash Parzham, who is accused of shooting a man to death outside a Toronto subway station last June, are ranked #2 and #5 on the Top 25 list.
A reward of up to $50,000 is available for Parzham’s arrest.
Alkhalil, who was serving a life sentence for the June 2012 murder of Johnny Raposo fatally shot on the crowded patio of the Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe while watching a Euro Cup soccer game, escaped from a Metro Vancouver jail last summer.
Weeks later, a British Columbia Supreme Court jury convicted him in absentia of first-degree murder in the 2012 slaying of longtime gang rival Sandip Duhre.
A reward of up to $100,000 is offered for Alkhalil’s arrest.
Demkiw said the 25 individuals are wanted for crimes that have taken lives, altered lives and left trauma that will outlive us.
“Sometimes, the impacts are obvious,” he said. “We see the candles, flowers and balloons left for the victims of gun violence. We see the tears of their bereaved loved ones. We see the children walking past police tape on their way to school. And sometimes, impacts are not so obvious. Long-lasting physical and psychological problems. Trauma that goes beyond the victims, their loved ones and their communities. Trauma that is passed down through generations.”
The Bolo Top 25 Most Wanted List was launched in April 2022.
Bolo – Be On The Look Out – is a term that is commonly used in movies and television shows and within the law enforcement community.
Launched in 2018, the BOLO program is an initiative leveraging social media and technology to make sure citizens are on the lookout for Canada’s most wanted so they can report sightings and submit tips to help the police arrest these wanted people.
The program amplifies Toronto Police’s most wanted notice.
“Bolo is a win-win for police, the community and for tipsters who can pass along their information and collect their reward, when applicable, without ever speaking with a police officer,” said Demkiw. “If you see one of the individuals on the cut-outs behind me, call Crime Stoppers. Call the Police. Call 9-1-1. If you know where one of these mostly wanted individuals is, the time has come to give him up. Again, we don’t need evidence. We don’t need you in court. We just need to find them.”
Demkiw urged the suspects to turn themselves in.
“Do the right thing for yourself, for your family, for your community and for the countless people hurt by these crimes,” he noted. “Call a lawyer. Call the police. Make arrangements to turn yourself in because, with Bolo, police are not the only ones on the lookout. Everybody is.”
Bolo Director Max Langlois said the program will continue to deploy innovative techniques to encourage citizens to be on the lookout and to make the world smaller for the most wanted fugitives.
“I stand here today with Bolo featured on the largest digital billboard in Canada and with the Most Wanted Fugitives in the country gathered as cut-outs in one of the country’s most prominent landmarks - Yonge & Dundas Square,” he said. “Here, these fugitives will be seen by people who live in Toronto, people who visit Toronto and, thanks to our media partners, people right across Canada.”
Langlois has a simple message for the most wanted individuals.
“Today is a good day to turn yourself in,” he said. “You have evaded arrest so far, but you can’t look over your shoulder every minute of every day. And the loyalty of your friends and associates will get tested as of today. Just do the right thing. Call a lawyer. Call the police. Make arrangements to turn yourself in.”
By breaking the code of silence and turning the suspects in, Toronto Crime Stoppers Chair Sean Sportun said citizens will make their community safer.
“More importantly, you will be allowing victims and survivors to move forward while also showing the offenders of this violence that we as a community stand together against the violence, not with it,” he said.
Since the Bolo program launch in 2018, about 600 tips have been generated and nearly 40 per cent of the 46 suspects featured have been apprehended.
