Street gang is common link between shootings: police

Feuds between rival gang members and a power struggle within a ruthless east-end street gang are behind a number of shootings that left three dead and several others injured, Toronto police say.

At a news conference Tuesday, police said the Galloway Boys street gang is the common link between a deadly shootout on Danzig Street, the slaying of a newcomer last December and at least six other shootings dating back to the summer of 2011.

Police began to unravel the ties and gather more information about potential suspects when tips poured in after two people were killed and 23 were injured at a community barbecue on Danzig Street in mid-July.

Still, police haven't been able to lay charges in most of the incidents because many witnesses refuse to break their silence out of fear, said homicide squad Det. Sgt. Brett Nicol, who released new details about the Danzig Street gunfight Tuesday.

Nicol said more than 100 people were present when Galloway Boys members and people from the Malvern area of Scarborough exchanged gunfire at the barbecue, killing 14-year-old Shyanne Charles and 23-year-old Joshua Yasay.

Five firearms and more than 25 shell casings were recovered as evidence at the scene, and all of the items have been submitted for forensic testing, including DNA and microscopic/toolmark examination, police said.

Witnesses reported seeing as many as six shooters as people scrambled for safety.

Police said the barbecue began as an annual event for local children but it went into the evening and was overrun by young people after a Galloway Boys member took to Twitter to invite people to the party, dubbed as his “Blocko,” for free Hennessey cognac.

As word spread through social media and other means, more and more people who live outside the complex showed up, including Malvern residents. That created a tense situation because of a years-long turf war between gang members from Galloway and Malvern, police said.

As Galloway Boys members confronted people they didn’t recognize, a group of Malvern residents was ordered to leave, but the same group returned with others a short time later, police said.

A second confrontation resulted in the deadly shootout.

Two arrested, but investigation ongoing

Since then, two people have been arrested but no one has been charged with murder or attempted murder.

Police said Galloway Boys member Nahom Tsegazab, known as Gifted, is charged with recklessly discharging a firearm.

Tsegazab used a Twitter account to promote the party, police said.

Malvern-area resident Shaquan Mesquito, known as Bam Bam, is charged with making threats prior to the shooting, in addition to nine other offences, police said.

Detectives are attempting to identify all of the shooters, but they say they need witnesses to tell them what they know before the investigation can move forward.

Det. Sgt. Peter Trimble said some of the wounded survivors are refusing to speak to investigators.

Officers are also eyeing potential links after a 17-year-old male, who was wounded at the barbecue, was shot near the Chester Le townhouse complex, near Victoria Park and Finch avenues, on Sept. 2.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder in that incident.

During their investigation, police have learned people from the Chester Le complex attended the Danzig Street event. Police are now examining all links and roles those people may have had in the shootout.

Gang linked to December homicide

Galloway Boys members are also linked to the unsolved killing of 24-year-old D’Mitre Barnaby, who was gunned down in a case of “mistaken identity” on Dec. 30, 2011, Nicol told reporters.

Barnaby did not have any gang affiliations and was not the intended target, as his slaying was the result of a conflict involving the Galloway Boys and males associated to the Orton Park area, Nicol said.

The intended target has a striking resemblance to Barnaby, said Nicol, who described the killing in detail at Tuesday's news conference.

Nicol said Barnaby, who moved to Canada from Jamaica, was slain in the rear parking lot of 3895 Lawrence Ave. E. when he was ambushed by two armed males.

The males pushed Barnaby and then shot him multiple times as he tried to flee.

Before Barnaby was killed, he and a friend were listening to music in his car in the parking lot of an apartment building at 3847 Lawrence Ave. E., when a 2007 Nissan Versa – white in colour with four doors – circled his car, Nicol said.

According to Barnaby’s friend, the Nissan’s male driver stared at them and gave him the feeling that they shouldn’t be there.

After the friend became nervous and left in his vehicle, two suspects from the Nissan were spotted walking north along Susan Street to the parking lot at 3847 Lawrence Ave. E., as Barnaby drove by and entered the parking lot at 3895 Lawrence Ave. E., police said.

The suspects turned, followed Barnaby to the second parking lot and shot him after he exited his vehicle.

After the shooting, the suspects ran westbound through the parking lot of 3847 Lawrence Ave. E., into a daycare yard and then over a fence that led to Windover Drive. The Nissan was later seized by police.

No one has been charged in Barnaby's killing, but police believe they know who killed him and they are urging people with information about the homicide - or any of the shootings - to contact investigators.

“These shooters are small, weak and cowardly," Nicol said. "We're hoping the community will come forward ... and point these guys out."

In an attempt to generate leads, police released surveillance video Tuesday that shows the suspects before and after the killing.

Six other shootings linked to conflict

According to police, the conflict between the Galloway Boys and their Orton Park rivals has resulted in six other shootings that have been linked by forensic and investigative means:

• Three males were wounded when they were shot in front of a Domino’s Pizza at Lawrence Avenue East and Susan Street on Sept. 4, 2011.
• A male was shot in his vehicle during a drug deal on Northfield Drive on Nov. 4, 2011. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his neck and upper body. Ramon Williams, who is associated with the Galloway Boys, was arrested Monday and is charged with attempted murder, police said.
• A drive-by shooting occurred at 4315 Kingston Rd., known turf of the Galloway Boys, on Dec. 28, 2011, two days before Barnaby was slain. Police believe three unknown males were shot at in an act of retaliation.
• Several shots were fired in the second-floor hallway at 3827 Lawrence Ave. E. on Jan. 15. Blood was found at the scene, but a victim has never been identified.
• Several people were seen fleeing after shots were fired in the area of 4100 Lawrence Ave. E. on Aug. 6. No victims were identified.
• An up-and-coming leader of the Galloway Boys was chased through the Lawrence East LRT station and shot against a fence Aug. 10.

Shooting suspects vying for gang leadership, police say

Police believe the suspects in those shootings are all vying for leadership within the Galloway Boys, and represent a new generation of the gang.

In an attempt to stem the violence, solve the shootings and ease the public's fears of further deaths or injuries, police have assigned additional officers to the neighbourhoods.

But police believe people are choosing to remain silent because of the gang's propensity for violence and intimidation, access to firearms and willingness to seek revenge.

This is not the first time police have targeted the Galloway Boys and their rivals after a wave of deadly violence.

In 2004, several members of the Galloway Boys and Malvern Crew were arrested and eventually sent to prison.

Nicol said the arrests hampered the Galloway Boys, but incarcerated members were eventually released, allowing them to mentor today’s members.

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