Another update to the story posted January 23 2009 at 10:50am
Toronto police have named a suspect in the Osgoode subway shooting incident -- Curt John, 21, of no fixed address.
They said at a Thursday news conference that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
"He knows he's wanted, he's a dangerous person and we're doing whatever we can to get this person off the street," Insp. Mario Di Tommaso told reporters.
Police are looking for John in connection with several other criminal matters:
- a warrant for arrest on attempted murder and several firearms charges have been issued in connection with the Jan. 22 incident at Osgood station
- a warrant for arrest on a charge of being an accessory after the fact to a July 26, 2008 homicide in 32 Division
- a warrant for arrest on charges relating to a pistol-whipping and vehicle theft that occurred on Wednesday
"In addition, this dangerous individual is also wanted by 22 Division in regards to a robbery and an assault that took place back on Nov. 27, 2008," Di Tommaso said.
He appealed the public to contact police with information and if they see him, to call 911.
"This individual is extremely dangerous, he is considered to be armed and dangerous, and members of the public should not approach this individual," he said.
Di Tommaso asked for John to turn himself in "before anybody else gets hurt."
At 10:47 a.m. on Jan. 22, one man shot another on the platform after a southbound University-line train pulled into Osgoode station. They had been arguing on and off. They had been on a bus from near Jane Street and Finch Avenue that traveled to the Downsview subway station.
Three shots were fired. The victim suffered wounds to his abdomen and leg. He was released from hospital the next day.
Chaos erupted around Osgoode station, with heavily-armed tactical officers swarming the streets. The station itself was shut down to allow police to investigate and wasn't re-opened until late in the rush hour. The University line between Union and St. George stations was shut down for a shorter period.
Police took a person of interest into custody at Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue, but then released him without charge.
Police released an image of a potential suspect captured from a security camera. The shooting victim told investigating officers that he knew the suspect if he saw him, but didn't know the man's name.
However, Di Tommaso said Thursday that the two men did know each other -- but wouldn't elaborate any further.
Other allegations
On Wednesday at 3:45 p.m., police received a call about a person with a gun in the Niska Road and Tobermory Drive area, he said.
The victim told police that two men approached him in the Jane-Finch Mall and asked for a ride to a Niska Road address. "The victim agreed and drove the suspects to that address, at which point the victim was pistol-whipped by the suspects, thrown out of the car and the suspects fled with the victim's vehicle," Di Tommaso said.
Although he may now have a vehicle, police believe John is still in the Toronto area, he said, adding the second suspect in Wednesday's case hasn't been identified yet.
The victim in the car knew John, Di Tommaso said.
Insp. Borg said the homicide occurred on Jamaica Day just outside of Keelesdale Park.
"We have arrested ... the cousin of Curt John, who is Jimmy John," he said.
Jimmy is in custody, having been charged with second-degree murder.
Borg said police allege that Curt John allowed Jimmy John to use his name to obtain medical care and disposed of some evidence for his cousin after the homicide.
"We've dedicated resources since the beginning of December to find Curt John," he said.
Di Tommaso said that assisting a fugitive is a criminal offence in its own right, adding that Curt John's family and lawyer know that police are searching for him.
He didn't have much information on the robbery and assault allegation from November.
It should be borne in mind that none of these allegations against Curt John have been proven in a court of law, and all persons should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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