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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
CRIME SCENE: Three men charged, fourth sought in Markham home invasion
Malcolm Tyrone Gittens, 25, of Oshawa faces five charges following Markham home invasion. Photo by York Regional Police Three men have been charged and a fourth suspect is sought for a Markham home invasion that occurred earlier this week. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account York Regional Police say officers responded to a home invasion in the area of Sauder Dr. and Jinnah Ave. shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday after three men, armed with one firearm, entered through the front door and confronted the homeowners. The men allegedly assaulted one victim and fled with a quantity of cash in a white, four-door Acura TL sedan. But their escape was thwarted when the suspect vehicle collided with responding police vehicles. Cops say four suspects fled from the vehicle on foot and after a short foot pursuit, two suspects were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered. A third suspect was quickly identified and arrested, with the assistance of the Emergency Response Unit, following the execution of a search warrant at a Mississauga apartment complex. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Raqib Jamal Qaiser, 32, of Bowmanville, Malcom Tyrone Gittens, 25, of Oshawa, and Andrew Clinton Thorne, 26, of Mississauga, all face charges of robbery with a firearm, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition and disguise with intent. Raqib Jamal Qaiser, 32, of Bowmanville faces four charges in connection with a June 4 Markham home invasion. (York Regional Police) Photo by York Regional Police Gittens also faces charges of disobeying order of court and breach of probation while Thorne also faces possession of firearm contrary to prohibition order and two counts of failure to comply with judicial release order. Gittens was on probation and Thorne was on judicial release orders for unrelated offences. Andrew Clinton Thorne, 26, of Mississauga faces six charges in connection with a June 4 Markham home invasion. (York Regional Police) Photo by York Regional Police One suspect is still sought but has yet to be identified. Police released images of the suspects out of concern they may have been involved in other alleged incidents. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Hold-Up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). Police have released new images of a suspect wanted in an alleged assault on Danztore Path in Oshawa on June 1. (Durham Regional Police) Photo by Durham Regional Police UNIDENTIFIED MAN SOUGHT FOR ALLEGED KNIFE ATTACK IN OSHAWA Investigators have released additional images of a suspect wanted in connection with an assault involving a weapon last weekend in Oshawa. Durham Regional Police say officers responded to reports of an armed person near Steeplechase St. and Windfields Farm Dr. around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. A man was walking west on Danztore Path when he allegedly approached two people walking in the opposite direction. As they passed each other, police allege the man pulled out a knife and tried to stab one of the other people. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. No injuries were reported. The assailant fled the area prior to police arrival and despite a search of the area, with help from the K9 Unit, the man was not found. The motive for the alleged attack remains under investigation. Anyone with video footage from this area or information about this incident is asked to call police at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 1805, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Read More TWO MARKHAM HOMES SHOT UP DAYS APART Investigators are appealing for witnesses after another Markham residence was targeted in a shooting early Friday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. York Regional Police say officers responded to a home in the area of 16th Avenue and William Berczy Blvd. around 4 a.m. and found multiple shell casings and visible damage to both the garage and a glass sliding door. Five people were inside the home at the time of the shooting but no injuries were reported. A previous shooting occurred at a neighbouring house last Saturday. The suspect vehicle is described only as a black sport utility vehicle. Investigators need help tracking down a shooter who opened fire on a Markham home from inside an SUV on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Photo by York Regional Police / YouTube (screengrab) Investigators are seeking any additional video surveillance from the area or any dashcam video on the roadways at that time. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Four men are accused of two break-and-enters in Markham and Toronto. York Regional Police say officers responded to the first break-and-enter near Raymerville Dr. and Tunny Cr., in Markham, around 1 p.m. on April 12. The bandits gained entry by smashing a rear glass door but fled after realizing the house was occupied. There were no injuries, police say. Investigators subsequently identified a white Kia Forte as a suspect vehicle and learned it was allegedly associated to additional break-and-enters across York Region. On Tuesday around 10 p.m., officers responded to a residential break-and-enter in the area of Lawrence Ave. W. and Avenue Rd. in Toronto and with the assistance of the Air Support Unit. The suspect vehicle and four suspects were arrested. Charged with related offences are Chabuka Kikalishvili, 36, Hiorhi Popsui, 42, Lasha Keburia, 41, and Davit Bezbakh, 41, all of Toronto. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7545, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Olympics NHL Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Ontario
The Journal
5 days ago
- General
- The Journal
Large quantity of chemicals found inside barrel at Carlow gunman's bedroom
GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING THE Carlow shopping centre shooting found a large quantity of chemicals inside a barrel at the home of the shooter. It is understood gardaí searched two houses linked to Evan Fitzgerald located on the Wicklow and Carlow border near the village of Kiltegan, some 40 minutes by road from the site of the shooting. Initial tests have determined that the barrel, about the size of a beer keg, contained a chemical accelerant that could be used to make highly flammable incendiary devices. Fitzgerald was due to go on trial in the coming months on 13 separate charges for possession of military spec weapons, gunpowder and nitrate chemicals. He was also charged with offences associated with an assault rifle he bought on the dark web. The Heckler and Koch G3 rifle was seized in March 2024, along with a Remington M1911 handgun and multiple types of ammunition. He had since been charged with possession of other guns and ammunition. He was arrested last year in Co Kildare by specialist gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who were assisted by armed officers from the Emergency Response Unit. He was set to hear a date for his trial this week, having appeared before court again last month. Advertisement At a hearing last year, when the then-steel yard worker was granted bail with strict conditions, the court was told he had a 'fascination' with firearms but that the interest was more of a hobby than a 'nefarious' one. Questions regarding his bail status have been raised by numerous politicians since Sunday night. 1 June Fitzgerald went to the shopping centre armed on Sunday evening at around 6.15pm and fired a number of shots into the air. He then died from a self-inflicted shotgun blast as two armed gardaí approached him. Sources have said that a bottle shaped object found on his body was found to contain nothing of concern. A van he used to travel to the shopping centre was also searched but did not contain any illegal or potentially lethal weapons or substances. The Journal believes Fitzgerald was wearing a gas mask during the events of Sunday night, a huge cause of concern for gardaí and military Explosive Ordnance Disposal soldiers as they arrived at the scene. The presence of the gas mask and the bottle on his body caused them to prepare for a possible chemical threat. Inside Fitzgerald's bedroom in the ensuing searches, gardaí found a large blue barrel containing a suspicious liquid which is now being examined to determine why the 22-year-old had it, and if it could have been used as or in a weapon. Gardaí are also examining how Fitzgerald was able to use a legally held firearm to carry out the shooting in Carlow. Investigators have been taking statements from people close to Evan Fitzgerald, as well as those who were among the last to see him before he travelled to the town. A large amount of witness statements from people who were in Carlow town is also being compiled along with a collection of all CCTV available across the gunman's route. An incident room has been set up in Carlow and gardaí have appealed for anyone with video footage to contact them. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
5 days ago
- The Journal
Post-mortem to be carried out later on body of Carlow gunman
A POST-MORTEM examination will be carried out later on the 22-year-old man who died in a shooting incident in Carlow on Sunday. The body of Evan Fitzgerald was removed from the scene of Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow yesterday and taken to the mortuary in Dublin ahead of today's post-mortem by the State Pathologist. A technical examination of the car park scene has finished but the scene remains held and the Fairgreen Shopping Centre remains closed. Yesterday, gardaí began releasing cars from the Shopping Centre car park and access is only granted to people who left a vehicle there. The scene of the fatality outside the Tesco store was also declared safe yesterday after an examination by Irish army explosives officers. Gardaí had called the bomb disposal experts to the scene after observing a bottle containing an unknown substance on the body of the dead man. Advertisement Gardaí were alerted to the shooting incident in Carlow at around 6.15pm on Sunday, 1 June. Fitzgerald, originally from Portrushen Upper near Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, was killed by his own firearm and no shots were fired by gardaí. No one else was injured by any of the shots fired, though a young girl sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the centre. Fitzgerald had been on bail for serious firearms offences and was before the courts last year when he was charged with offences associated with an assault rifle he bought on the dark web. He was arrested last year in Co Kildare by specialist gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who were assisted by armed officers from the Emergency Response Unit. He was set to hear a date for his trial, having appeared before court again last month. At a previous hearing last year, where Fitzgerald was granted bail with strict conditions, the court was told he had a 'fascination' with firearms but that the interest was more of a hobby rather than a 'nefarious' one. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
22-year-old Carlow gunman was due in court and had ‘fascination with firearms'
Fitzgerald was facing 13 charges of possessing firearms and explosive material A man who opened fire in a Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life was due back in court this week to face 13 charges of possessing firearms and explosive material. Evan Fitzgerald (22) was arrested last year and accused of being in possession of two guns, a magazine for an AK-47, over 130 rounds of ammo, and explosive substances. A major security alert was sparked at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre last night after the gunman discharged a number of shots before being confronted by gardaí and suffering a self-inflicted fatal wound. No other injuries were reported from the weapons discharge and a young girl suffered minor injuries having fallen while running from the scene. The Army's bomb squad were called to the shopping centre and later declared the area safe while, at a private residence, investigators recovered two rounds of ammunition and a barrel containing a mix of alcohol and energetic material. The gunman has since been identified as Evan Fitzgerald, from Portrushen Upper in Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, who was on bail having been charged last year as part of a garda investigation into the purchase of firearms on the dark web. He was due in court again on Wednesday to have the book of evidence served on him in the case and had not yet entered a plea to the charges. Mr Fitzgerald was stopped by members of the Emergency Response Unit on March 2, 2024, while travelling in a car at Ponsonby Bridge near Straffan, Co Kildare. A semi-automatic pistol and rifle as well as ammunition were found, and he was arrested and later charged. Evan Fitzgerald at Naas District Court last year (File photo by Steve Humphreys) In his first court appearance gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence that Evan Fitzgerald was not involved in organised crime but that he 'has a fascination with firearms'. He was subsequently granted bail subject to strict conditions. Mr Fitzgerald last appeared in court this May and was due back up before Naas District Court on Wednesday, while the State prosecution service directed that he should face trial before a judge and jury. At a previous hearing in April, gardaí gave evidence that further charges were expected against him. It was also heard that he had adhered to all bail conditions. Mr Fitzgerald was facing a total 13 of charges, including possession of a 7.62 x 51mm NATO calibre Heckler & Koch G3 rifle and a.45 ACP calibre Remington Rand M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol at Ponsonby Bridge on March 2, 2024, along with 22 rounds of .45 ACP calibre ammunition and 20 rounds of .308 Winchester calibre ammunition. The steel worker was also accused of possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive substances at his home address on the same date. This included 23 rounds of various calibre rifle rounds, four rounds of pistol ammunition, ammo for a .308 Winchester and 69 various shotgun cartridges. Forensic investigators at Fairgreen Shopping centre, Carlow (Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire) Further charges related to the possession of a magazine for a 7.62 x 39mm AK-47 rifle, a magazine for a Tokarev Caliber TT-33 pistol, and a magazine for a Markarov pistol. Mr Fitzgerald was also facing two further charges of possessing explosive substances at his Carlow home. These were allegedly ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, sulfur and magnalium explosive mixture, and a second charge related to the possession of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal (black powder) explosive mixture. These substances are ingredients for gunpowder. Further details of yesterday's incident were released at a garda press briefing today. Assistant Commissioner for the Eastern Region, Paula Hilman, told how at 6.15pm An Garda Siochana received multiple reports of shots being fired at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre. 'Gardaí responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping centre,' she said. 'An unarmed uniformed unit arriving at the scene observed the suspect exiting the shopping centre. The suspect discharged a firearm, a shotgun, into the air. Another plain clothes armed garda unit responding drew their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardaí. The suspect discharged the firearm again, self-inflicting a fatal wound.' Evan Fitzgerald at Naas District Court last year (File photo by Steve Humphreys) News in 90 seconds - June 2nd She said gardaÍ implemented a cordon around the Fairgeen Shopping Centre and carpark, and a bottle containing an unknown substance was observed by gardaí on the deceased, which prompted a decision to call the army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Collins Barracks, Cork who attended the scene late last night. In a statement the Defence Forces said that two EOD teams were deployed, one at the shopping centre, and another at a private residence. 'Following an assessment by the EOD Teams, no viable device was found at Fairgreen Shopping Centre and at the private residence, two rounds of ammunition were found, along with a barrel containing a mix of alcohol and energetic material'. A post-mortem is due to be carried out by State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers while gardaí are preparing a file for the coroner.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Armed man in Carlow fatal shooting described as having ‘fascination' with guns
The man who fired shots in a Carlow town shopping centre before taking his own life, was described previously in court as having a 'fascination' with firearms. The description was made when he appeared before court on gun charges and was granted bail. He had allegedly bought guns on the darknet, including a G3 Heckler & Kock machine gun, a Remington M1911 handgun and two types of ammunition, which were discovered during a Garda operation in Co Kildare. Gardaí believed the man, who was in his early 20s, had purchased the guns for recreational reasons rather than any plan to carry out organised crimes. READ MORE However, that investigation into him and other suspects was significant in scale and involved Garda units that tackle serious crime, including the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Emergency Response Unit. When the man appeared in court last year, gardaí initially objected to bail. He was eventually granted bail subject to strict conditions. The man who died in Carlow was still on bail pending his trial at the time of his death and had appeared in court last month for the latest hearing relating to his case. He was the only person wounded in the incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre just after 6pm on Sunday, believed to have been carried out using a shotgun. Shoppers fled the scene after seeing him with the gun and firing a number of shots. Garda Headquarters issued a statement on Sunday night confirming shots had been fired and a man had died. The statement said the deceased was a white Irishman. Confirmation of the dead man's ethnicity and nationality was publicly shared by the Garda after some far-right social media accounts claimed the incident was carried out by a foreign man. Some far-right social media users also described the incident as a mass shooting with multiple victims wounded. The decision to quickly confirm the nationality and ethnicity of a person of interest in events with a public safety dimension is becoming more common in international policing. It is being done in a bid to offset tensions and reduce the potential for violence stoked by some far-right actors based on disinformation. There were concerns the dead man had a device, either explosive or flammable, on his person when he died. For that reason his body was left in situ overnight at the Carlow shopping centre pending an examination by Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts. Early on Monday gardaí confirmed that work has been completed and the area has been declared safe, though a crime scene secure cordon remained in place at the shopping centre. 'The scene remains cordoned off while both the Garda Technical Bureau and the Office of the State Pathologist conduct examinations,' the Garda said, adding anyone with vehicles parked within the overnight cordon would be informed later in the day when they could collect them. An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the inquiry. A Garda family liaison officer was also appointed to provide support to the dead man's family. The Garda investigation into the fatal firearms incident is ongoing. Anyone who recorded footage in or around the shopping centre between 6pm and 6.30pm on Sunday is asked to provide it to the investigation team. Though a young girl was injured during the incident, she was not wounded. While the circumstances of her sustaining that injury were yet to be determined, she was treated at the scene before being taken home by family members. She did not require hospital treatment. On Sunday night Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened' at the shooting incident. 'My thoughts are with the families affected and the local community in Carlow after what was a very serious and traumatic incident. I urge anyone who has information to speak to the gardaí.' Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan expressed his 'solidarity with those impacted' by the 'really shocking incident', which was 'something we never want or expect to happen in our communities'. 'Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case,' he added. 'The area in Carlow is safe. We must now allow An Garda Síochána to investigate this incident fully.' Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he was briefed by Chief of Staff Lieut Gen Rossa Mulcahy about the assistance his Defence Forces personnel were providing to the operation. He was 'thinking of' the young injured girl and her family, as well as 'all those who witnessed this situation and the awful shock and upset it must have caused them'.
