An 18-year-old man was charged with shooting at two Toronto-area synagogues in March, the Toronto Police Service and York Regional Police announced on Wednesday.
The suspect, who is not being named because he was 17 years old when he allegedly fired shots at the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue and Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (the BAYT), has been charged with two counts of discharging a firearm into a place, two counts of mischief to property over $5,000, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possessing a prohibited device, careless storage of a prohibited device, and occupying a vehicle with a prohibited device.
On Friday, Canadian law enforcement had announced that they were seeking a suspect for his involvement in both shootings.
The suspect had allegedly fired at the BAYT on March 6, causing damage to the synagogue’s front doors. Two people were inside it at the time, but were not injured. Just after midnight on March 7, the suspect also allegedly fired shots at Shaarei Shomayim, again damaging the front entrance.
“These incidents were a terrible act of violence against the Jewish community in our cities,” TPS Chief Myron Demkiw said on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
While the suspect was not immediately met with terrorism or hate crime-related charges, Demkiw said that the investigation into the March shootings was ongoing.
Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca said that incidents targeting community sites were unacceptable, and that the municipality was doing everything possible to keep residents safe.
“I know the Jewish community has been deeply shaken by these acts, and it’s important for me to state clearly: in Vaughan, you are not alone,” Del Duca said in a Wednesday statement. “The criminals who engage in this deplorable behavior belong behind bars.”
The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs and United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto said in a joint statement that they were encouraged by police action, but that multiple shootings against Canadian synagogues represented a “dangerous escalation.”
Shots fired at Shaarei Shomayim
“These attacks shook the sense of safety not only for those congregations, but for Jewish communities across the region,” said the organizations. “Strong and consistent enforcement of the law is essential. The Jewish community, like all Canadians, must have confidence that acts of violence and intimidation will be met with serious consequences. “
The two incidents related to the Wednesday arrest were preceded by a March 2 shooting at the Temple Emanu-El synagogue, leaving multiple bullet holes in the synagogue’s front windows.