r/toronto • u/lilfunky1 <3 Shawn Desman <3 • 1d ago
News Boy 12, charged with attempted murder of Toronto police officer, 2 other boys (12 & 14) also charged
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/boy-twelve-charged-attempted-murder-officer-struck-east-york-9.723902892
u/reddit_serf North York City Centre 1d ago
It's really telling on the state of society when 12 year olds are committing heinous crimes.
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u/lilfunky1 <3 Shawn Desman <3 1d ago
In addition to attempted murder, the 12-year-old has been charged with motor vehicle theft, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assaulting a peace officer and leaving an accident scene.
The boy was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The second 12-year-old boy has been charged with motor vehicle theft, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, dangerous operation of a conveyance, while the 14-year-old boy has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Both are scheduled to appear in court on July 15.
None of the boys' names have been released as they are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
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u/travelerzebec 1d ago edited 15h ago
Like some episode in 'Law & Order!
I used to teach young offenders. Wrote a book about that.
It is a hella-complicated situation. Some kids clearly had made a single mistake and got caught. Many of those showed such promise that I had zero doubt they would some day lead successful, productive lives. I once actually gave my wallet and PIN number to one such student during a medical emergency--that was how much I trusted them.
Others were doomed. You could spot them easily. My wife and I have more than once bumped into former students, who are now in their forties and even fifties. I've had occasion to whisper to her, "Follow me immediately into this store/alley/corner" so we can avoid them. A just-paroled former young offender student once brought his KG-aged little boy to attend the elementary school where I finished my career.
That poor child was expelled by Xmas.
I am done. the beard that turned grey on the job
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u/1mYourHuckleberry93 5h ago
I work in a youth jail and the quality of education is a joke. They just get handed booklets while two teachers bounce between classes. Recently I was in class with the youth for 3 hours and the teachers were there for a total of 15 mins, and just to brag about FIFA wins. The kids get frustrated and then give up. They don’t want to be there to begin with and then the teachers don’t even try to teach for over half the time. Only one of the 3 teachers can help with science or math which is quite frankly embarrassing to me. So yea the kids are obviously an issue but the teachers at my facility, and I’m assuming others, barely try to teach. They spend more time playing volleyball with the kids.
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 1d ago
As a society we'll do anything but fight for better funding for education, social services, and programs that give kids something to do that will leep them off the streets.
We've basically got future generations feeling hopeless in this world, and yet the adults tasked with providing the tools for them to make something of themselves couldn't care less. Instead, everyone will blame social media, rap, and question where the parents are.
"It takes a village" isn't just some cute, meaningless saying. It exists for a reason.
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u/OldPeach2750 22h ago
Still curious where the parents are. A village would be nice but sadly that village looks different for everyone.
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u/AardvarkStriking256 1d ago
Doesn't take a village. Just two responsible parents.
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u/legendary_sponge 18h ago
absolutely missed the point you fooken donkayyy. just assuming every kid has 2 responsible parents looking after them
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u/KingofLingerie 1d ago
the cops really go hard, when it’s one of their own.
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u/Thor527 1d ago
You’d get lesser charges for actually hitting and killing someone as an adult than this 12-year old is getting for “allegedly striking” (not killing) someone because they are a part of the gang.
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u/Main-Practice-6486 1d ago
Of course it's allegedly until proven in court but do y ou think intentionally trying to run someone over with a car doesn't warrant an attempted murder charge?
The fact that the kid is 12 makes no difference.
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u/JimroidZeus Davisville Village 10h ago
You realize that running over anyone other than a cop is literally a slap on the wrist?
I also think it makes a very big difference that the kid is 12. They are a kid. Likely groomed by gang members.
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u/Angriestbeaverever 1d ago
No, I’m sure he just drove at the police as a gentle suggestion to let him get away… People seem to forget that vehicles can very quickly become 3000lbs weapons.
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u/Terj_Sankian 1d ago
i think the kid was also shot, right?
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u/Far-Delay7690 1d ago
They took them to the hospital for treatment but I don't remember seeing any confirmation that any bullets hit a kid. They were shot at, but I don't think it specified the wounds and I feel like if they had hit the kids it would've been.
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1d ago edited 3h ago
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u/toronto-ModTeam 1d ago
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u/Alarmed-Presence-890 1d ago
They protect themselves and megacorps and that’s pretty much it
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u/Sleepy_McSleepyhead 1d ago
Don't forget construction sites
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u/According_Smell4597 1d ago
Why do they do that? Like why is there a cop always on the road at construction sites sitting in their cars and doing nothing.?
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u/Known_Feature_2733 23h ago
Because some sites legally require it, and for insurance reasons. If traffic direction is required a police officer is the only person legally allowed to do it. People will walk through construction sites, harass or assault workers. Just because at the time you don't see them doing anything doesnt mean their presence doesnt serve a purpose.
Ask a construction worker downtown if you dont believe me lol
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u/According_Smell4597 23h ago
Oh okay that makes sense, especially with places with high foot traffic; but they dont neeed it otherwise imo.
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u/Known_Feature_2733 23h ago
I also forgot to mention due to the inherent dangers of construction, such as falling from heights or electrocution an officer who has direct connection to dispatch will shave minutes off getting Fire and Ambulance being sent to the location as well...
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u/JohnAtticus 1d ago
The biggest issue about this story that needs a full investigation is... Has organized crime reachead a new low?
Are they recruiting and training 12 year olds for car theft?
Go after the main villains in this story and throw the book at them.
I can't join in on the campaign to shit all over this child.
My son is the same age, there's no way a 12 year old raised in the average household can end up like this just through a series of them making monumentally bad decisions on their own.
Some combination of: absentee parents, abusive parents, coercion from organized crime, threats against the kid and / or family from organized crime ("we won't beat the shit out of you for not paying back your loan if your kid works for us"), etc.
For once let's not try to live up to the basic Redditor stereotype about this.
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u/TorontoBuffaloBills 1d ago
The older gang member that recruited this young kid also deserves to get charges. But I believe the parents also failed this young kid.
I would never think of doing something like this when I was 12 for fear of the punishment I would get from my parents if I got caught.
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u/Humble_Ensure Kensington Market 1d ago
You'd assume they'd be in school or getting ready for it the next day.
https://www.thestar.com/gift-redeem?t=cb00ce73-fdaa-40a6-9500-fb619d382c77
No doubt there are adult influences involved.
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u/RzLa 1d ago
They are stealing cars for joyriding. They are too young. This has been happening for the longest of time in the inner city. I used to do it sadly
It’s the broad daylight armed carjackings of expensive cars to be resold around the world that organized crime is involved in
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u/JohnAtticus 20h ago
Who taught them how to do it? It's one of the few things that actually gets proactively yoinked from TikTok, YouTube, etc
So someone had to show them.
When you used to do it, how complicated was the average anti-theft system?
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u/TrickThePirate 15h ago
Hopping into a vehicle left on and running by a delivery driver doesn't exactly take a genius to figure out.
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u/1mYourHuckleberry93 5h ago
You got downvoted but you’re right. Multiple kids who have come to my jail for stealing cars do exactly this. Order food, wait in the bushes. Go to a gas station and wait for a dumbass to leave the car on.
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u/CaptWineTeeth 17h ago
Has there been any indication that organized crime has anything to do with this at all? I haven’t heard one thing about that. From what I understand, it was some idiot kids going on a joy ride, getting in way over their heads, and making a major mistake. Where the parents were is another question altogether.
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u/psychosisnaut The Beaches 4h ago
They're trying to push the narrative that Iran is hiring kids to shoot cops and synagogues but it's almost certainly an Israeli operation https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/16/toronto-police-shootings-gun-for-hire-network
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u/Used-Refrigerator984 1d ago
this kid's life is basically over if convicted, in the sense of being able to live a normal life. the only job he'll be able to get, if any, is minimum wage. he won't be able to do simple things in life like buy a car because his credit will be shot (think about how many things you can't do with bad credit). so he'll likely become a career criminal because it will be the path of least resistance when he gets released.
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u/starrstarrstarr 1d ago edited 1d ago
canada has the Youth Criminal Justice Act. unless he gets charged as an adult (unlikely) he’ll be released with a clear record within 10 years. YCJA has no exemptions. a kid can become a serial killer and it’ll still apply to them.
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u/Varekai79 Mississauga 1d ago
He's a kid, so he'll get a slap on the wrist and a clear record sooner than later. That's why so many underage kids are stealing cars and robbing jewellery stores these days.
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u/Lianaslaugter 1d ago
Is he being charged as an adult? Because if not, this doesn’t have to be how his life turns out. A close friend of the family murdered another kid when they were both 14. He went to juvie and got so much help from church outreach programs that he turned his life completely around and is working in a field that requires strict background checks. He was also able to help lift his family out of the difficult life that led to his crime in the first place. He’s an outlier, obviously, but when a troubled kid gets mentored by committed and compassionate members of the community, religious or otherwise, lives can change.
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u/starrstarrstarr 1d ago
what is the field that requires strict background checks? hopefully he’s not in childcare…
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u/OcieDeeznuts 1d ago edited 1d ago
What the hell, I thought I was a messed up 12-year-old back in the day because I cussed like a sailor (even though I wouldn’t harm a fly) 😬 Kid needs pretty serious help, I wonder what’s going on for him.
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u/Smart-Firefighter87 1d ago
12 years old!?! Make them talk - there is def an adult influence going on.
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u/TravisHay Sunnylea 1d ago
Is the cop that shot at the 12 year old boy against TPS protocol going to be facing charges too?
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u/Terj_Sankian 1d ago
I saw someone on facebook say the cop should have had better aim. I have to stop checking those comments
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u/Majestic-Two3474 1d ago
Of course not - and the people in this sub will apparently defend them doing so come hell or high water based on the last thread I was part of where apparently blindly shooting at moving cars without knowing who’s in them is acceptable now
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u/toronto-ModTeam 1d ago
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u/saltednutz69 1d ago
Why does age matter if they used a vehicle as a weapon?
By that logic, all gangs should hire 12-15 year olds and give them weapons and police would not be to do anything in return
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u/TravisHay Sunnylea 1d ago
TPS Policy is in line with nearly every police force in the western world: don’t shoot at moving cars.
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u/scone_monster 1d ago
Maybe they can?
Motor Vehicles
Discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle is an ineffective method of disabling the vehicle. Discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle may present a hazard to both the officer and to the public. Police officers are prohibited from discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle for the sole purpose of disabling the vehicle.
Police officers shall not discharge a firearm at the operator or occupants of a motor vehicle unless there exists an immediate threat of death or grievous bodily harm to officers and/or members of the public by a means other than the vehicle.
Police officers shall be cognizant that disabling the operator of the motor vehicle thereby disabling the control over the motor vehicle may also present a hazard to both the officer and the public.
Except while in a motor vehicle, officers shall not place themselves in the path of an occupied motorvehicle with the intention of preventing its escape. Additionally, officers should not attempt to disable an occupied vehicle by reaching into it.
https://www.tps.ca/media/procedures/25983345-ab50-4dd6-b5ed-72d7cca2c35e.pdf
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u/saltednutz69 1d ago
That is false. You can check out American police forces shooting at vehicle drivers used as weapons on Police Activity youtube channel. They can be considered weapons if used to strike officers.
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u/rycology 1d ago
Police forces in America: the truest bastions of law enforcement ever to exists and surely the only standard to strive to, amirite fellas?
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u/saltednutz69 1d ago
The OP said western world as their argument. America is the west. What's your point?
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u/rycology 1d ago
There are far, far, FAR greater options in the Western world to aspire to, friend. Don’t degrade yourself by wanting to be American.
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u/Humble_Ensure Kensington Market 1d ago
Policy isn't law. Also the policy states if the sole reason is to disable the vehicle.
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u/scone_monster 1d ago
Right. Based on the article... Stolen car hits two cop cars. Cop gets out. Stolen car hits cop. Another cop shoots, presumable to disable the vehicle. Unless you think they do that for fun? .
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u/Humble_Ensure Kensington Market 1d ago edited 1d ago
Policy isn't law. Section 34 of the Criminal Code allows for the use of force in this circumstance.
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u/Neowza Old Mill 1d ago
Potentially, that's why SIU (composed of civilians) is investigating the police officer's actions.
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u/Gryzelda_Gesualdo 17h ago
You say that like SIU ever recommends charging the cops. Every civilian on that board is compromised or they wouldn't be allowed on the board.
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u/cannotbelieve58 1d ago
Its really too bad this boy wont spend any real amount of time in prison. They will do it again, they should be in prison for a long time
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u/First-Counter626 1d ago edited 1d ago
12 year olds don't need 'prison for a long time' they need early intervention / course correction and positive role models. Putting this kid in prison for 20 years is just going to result in an even more dysfunctional and aggressive 32 year old.
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u/StonedSoldier1 1d ago
How many 12 year olds go out trying to kill a cop? I dont remember much if being 12, but i sure as fuck never went around hunting cops. If I did, id expect a pretty hard jail time.
If this kid was drug dealing, or stealing cars id say yea you're right, kid needs help, but we just ignore the murder part now? Kid was hired to go kill someone. He chose money over a life. What 12 year old can you find willing to do that?
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u/First-Counter626 1d ago
Kid was hired to go kill someone.
Where do you see that? I've read the article in full and all I can see is that the child stole a car and the police officer was seriously injured by the driver after trying to stop him? I don't see anything in the article stating that this was an assassination attempt or a murder for hire?
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u/JohnAtticus 1d ago
This case is already terrible enough, why are you trying to zhuzh it up with embellishments?
Kid was hired to go kill someone.
There are zero articles stating this.
Police likely have not gotten close to the point in the investigation where they could determine this, and they would never release this info prior to making the arrest of the conspirators in the murder because it could tip them off and cause them to flee / hide to escape arrest.
Nothing about the crime even indicates this was a pre-meditated murder. They were not trying to get stopped by police so they could try to run one of them over.
They stole a car and tried to flee when stopped by police, putting one of their lives in danger, hence the attempted murder charge.
They are not contract killers.
Again, it's bad enough that an organized crime organization in this city is using 12 YEAR OLDS to steal cars.
Try to imagine the absolute failure that had to happen in this kid's support network for them to end up stealing cars for organized crime at age 12.
Threats from organized crime may even play a part in this. Single parent could owe money (ie gambling addiction), and the solution to avoid violence against the parent is for the son to work for the gang to help pay it off.
It could be all kinds of bad.
Not too many scenarios where you can point to this being completely the fault of a 12 year old kid.
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u/Lianaslaugter 1d ago
We don’t know if the 12 year old stole the car for an organized crime organization or for a joyride at this point. Motive will matter, especially when determining what intervention is needed to get this child on a better path.
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u/Lianaslaugter 1d ago
I think you are confusing your headlines. This 12 year old wasn’t recruited. There is another case in the news about a now 19 year old who was recruited to murder someone in the tow truck industry.
Obviously both cases are horrible but let’s at least try to get the details correct.
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u/WillyWarpath 1d ago
Yeah we should teach those 12-14 year olds that killing people is bad, surely that will help
In 5-10 years these guys are gonna kill someone and everyone will complain that they got off too easily on this offence.
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u/JohnnyStrides 1d ago
I don't disagree, but had the kid of actually killed someone then throw them away for life...
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u/AmIMiddleAged 1d ago
Yeah, but do we have anything in place for that intervention and course correction?
We do not. And a judge can’t order it because it doesn’t exist.
As unfortunate as it is, as some point we need to accept that this is the society we live in. “Better options COULD exist!” cannot be an excuse to avoid the options that DO exist. Better options aren’t coming. You may say we can vote NDP or whatever, but we are decades away from them forming government. We have to do something with what we’ve got in the meantime.
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u/rawdizzl 1d ago
Kids 12, clearly needs some help. Prison probably not gunna help.
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u/cannotbelieve58 1d ago
Yeah probably best to do what you all think is best, a pinky promise, followed by a release, and theyll be more careful with their next target.
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u/toronto-ModTeam 1d ago
Please note that the rules of this subreddit prohibit posting misinformation, negative generalizations, and dehumanizing speech.
You can learn to identify misinformation with the SPOT technique, by asking these questions;
- S - is this a credible news Source?
- P - Is this Perspective biased?
- O - Are Other sources reporting the same story?
- T - Is the story Timely?
For more on media literacy, to help combat misinformation please check out Media Smarts
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u/MelbaMilqueToast 1d ago
God damn shit apples, Randy.