Toronto police arrest two youths in second shooting at U.S. Consulate

Toronto Police say they have arrested two youths in connection with the second recent shooting targeting the United States Consulate in Toronto, including one suspect who is 15 years old.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the arrests relate to the July 27 shooting. The two suspects are facing multiple charges, including allegedly breaching court-ordered release conditions. Police have not released their identities because of legal restrictions, including provisions that protect the identity of young persons.

According to Toronto Police, investigators believe the July 27 shooting and an earlier shooting at the U.S. Consulate on March 10 were motivated by the same underlying objective. Demkiw said investigators believe the two youths were offered money through encrypted messaging applications to carry out the attack. Police said identifying those responsible for directing the alleged criminal network remains a key focus of the ongoing investigation.

The March 10 shooting also resulted in the arrest of two suspects, then aged 18 and 19. Police previously said they were investigating whether those accused had links to a network that recruits individuals to commit crimes in exchange for payment.