A snub at a summer barbecue sparked a "violent confrontation" between two gangs in what's been called the worst mass shooting in Toronto's history, police said Thursday in announcing murder charges.
The clash at the July 16 block party on Danzig Street left Shyanne Charles, 14, and Joshua Yasay, 23 - who police have said were innocent partygoers - dead and more than 20 others wounded.
Police announced that Shaquan (Bam Bam) Mesquito, 18, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, reckless discharge of a firearm and 23 counts of aggravated assault.
The first murder charges in the shooting are a milestone in the investigation, said Toronto police Chief Bill Blair, but he called more arrests "inevitable."
"There are others who also bear a responsibility for what took place in the Danzig community on July 16 and we're going to hold them to account," he said.
Police are not necessarily alleging that Mesquito fired the fatal shots.
