Toronto police announced Tuesday morning that they have arrested a man charged with two separate “gratuitous” murders that occurred less than a week ago, that of a 21-year-old Indian student and a 35-year-old man.
The suspect Richard Jonathan Edwin, 39, faces two counts of first degree murder in their deaths.
According to police, the suspect has no criminal record for past crimes. He has guns legally in his home.
Richard Jonathan Edwin was found at an address in the Spadina and Bloor Street area, police said they arrested him on Sunday.
I hope this fact will allow families to turn the pagePolice Chief James Ramer told reporters Tuesday.
Kartik Vasudev, a 21-year-old international student from India, was shot at Sherbourne tube station on April 7 around 5 pm Two days later, Toronto’s Elijah Eleazar Mahepath was shot near the intersection of Dundas Street East and George Street , east of Jarvis Street, just before 7 pm Police believe the suspect was a complete stranger for both men.
When asked if these were hate crimes, the police chief repliedthey are both visible minoritiesbut police were unsure of the type of crime because of the interaction between the shooter and his victims very fast and short. Hence, he may not have realized their ethnic origin. As a result of these killings, Mr. Ramer said that a most effort was deployed to find the suspect.
With information from the CBC
Source: Radio-Canada