Police make more arrests after brazen gunfight in the city
On November 11, 2024, 52 Division plainclothes officers and Public Safety Response Team members were conducting an investigation outside a building in the Queen St. W. and Sudbury St. area when there was a shootout involving three individuals who arrived in a stolen vehicle and some people at a recording studio at 1196 Queen St. W.
Police arrested 23 people and 16 firearms were seized. Following further investigation, charges were stayed against five people, including a youth who was charged with a homicide committed in April 2024.
Led by the Integrated Gun and Task Force, a Task Force was created to identify those involved in the gunfight.
“They have been relentlessly seeking suspects since the incident and will continue to do so until every individual connected to this case is brought before the courts,” said Superintendent Paul MacIntyre at a news conference at police headquarters on January 23. “This case serves as a powerful reminder that the Toronto Police Service remains unwavering in its commitment to holding individuals accountable for actions that endanger public safety.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the officers who bravely ran towards the gunfire that night along with the Task Force for their unwavering dedication and commitment to making our city safer.”
Supported by the Ministry of the Attorney General, Project Poppie was created in November 2024.
“One of the first steps the Task Force took after reviewing the evidence was to consult with the Ministry of the Attorney General to stay the charges against five of the people initially charged that night,” said Inspector Paul Krawczyk. “Since then, we have arrested 14 additional suspects and laid 105 new charges. There are nine people that have warrants for their arrests in relation to this incident and who we are actively looking for.”
He said the ages of the individuals arrested range from 16 to 30 with the average age being 22.
“We allege that almost all of those arrested were directly involved in the shootout or were in possession of one or more firearms,” Krawczyk said. “Additionally, during this investigation, we arrested an associate of one of the accused who was breaching the conditions of a court-ordered release. At the time of his arrest, he was also found to be in possession of an illegal handgun.”
The senior officer has a clear message for anyone carrying illegal firearms or engaging in gun violence.
‘We will not stop coming after you,” he said. “This was an egregious act in the city. What you see in the video is not just illegal. It is brazen. Guns treated like toys and lives treated as afterthoughts. The work of the Toronto Police Service doesn’t end when the gunfire stops. The city belongs to its residents, not those who threaten its safety. We will continue working until that message is loud and clear.”
