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Former harm reduction worker sentenced for being accessory in fatal Leslieville shooting
A former harm reduction worker has been given a conditional sentence of two years less a day after she aided a man connected to the fatal shooting of a woman in Leslieville near a now-closed drug consumption site.
Khalila Zara Mohammed, 25, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2024 to being an accessory after the crime of manslaughter.
Mohammed, who originally lied to Toronto police, admitted to helping Ahmed Mustafa Ibrahim following the shooting of Karolina Huebner-Makurat outside the South Riverdale Community Health Centre on Queen Street E. near Carlaw Avenue on July 7, 2023.
Huebner-Makurat died in hospital after she was hit by a stray bullet. Police have said that she was struck by the bullet after a group of three men were in an altercation nearby and two of them fired guns at each other.
Ontario Court Justice Russell Silverstein read the reasons for his sentence in a Toronto courtroom on Monday, saying it is appropriate for Mohammed to serve her sentence in the community given the circumstances of the case.
Silverstein said her sentence is 529 days, after receiving credit for time in custody and under house arrest. The first 300 days of the sentence are to be served under house arrest and the remaining 229 days with a curfew. In addition, she is ordered to perform 100 hours of community service during the sentence.
"Ms. Mohammed has no history of violence and has been well-behaved and is on a strong rehabilitative track since the commission of the offence. I find that she presents a very low risk of re-offending, and I am thus satisfied that service of the sentence in the community would not endanger the safety of the community," Silverstein said.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Mohammed helped Ibrahim on the day of shooting, helped to treat his wounds, provided new clothes for him, and ordered an Uber for him to get him out of the area. Later, she warned him to "lay low" and "get out of the city." She also started a romantic relationship with him.
She was arrested on Aug. 14, 2023. After her arrest and being interviewed by homicide detectives, she provided a statement to police, "essentially denying any knowledge of Ibrahim, contrary to her text messages."
"Ms. Mohammed's actions, while they came after the death of Karoline Huebner-Makurat, nonetheless extended the anguish of her husband, children, and other loved ones," Silverstein said.
"Her assistance to the principal offender persisted for several weeks and involved many significant steps all clearly intended to shield him from the police, most significantly, lying to the police on more than one occasion."
But there are mitigating circumstances, including that she is a "youthful first offender," Silverstein said.
"Ms. Mohammed has pleaded guilty and has expressed remorse to the family of the deceased and to the Court. I have no doubt that it is heartfelt and genuine," he said.
"Ms. Mohammed is now cooperating in the prosecution of the alleged principal offenders, giving full and frank testimony at their preliminary inquiry."
Fatal shooting led to closure of some consumption sites
The fatal shooting prompted community outcry and provincial reviews of drug consumption sites, which led to legislation that bans any supervised consumption site within 200 metres of a school or daycare.
The consumption site located inside the South Riverdale Community Health Centre, closed ahead of a March 31 deadline to shut its doors, as directed by the Ontario government.
Ibrahim was charged with manslaughter and robbery in the case. Another man, Damian Hudson, has been charged with second-degree murder. Toronto police are continuing to seek a third suspect, Ahmed Ali, who is believed to have fled to Somalia.
