Police Chief Myron Demkiw urges stiffer sentences for public space shooters

'We need stronger deterrence when someone chooses to fire a gun into a private, public gathering, showing complete disregard for human life.'

Published Aug 07, 2026  •  2 minute read

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw. Photo by Dr.., Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia

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If the senseless act of violence perpetrated in the double murder at the busy Salsa on St. Clair festival last month wasn’t enough, there is an additional concern for Toronto’s top cop.

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“What we need to address is the egregious behaviour, which is the willingness of some people to pick up firearms and shoot them off in public spaces,” Police Chief Myron Demkiw told a press conference on Friday morning.

Among the many judicial reforms the chief is advocating for is making any fatal shooting in a setting where people share open space, whether an intended attack or an attack involving a stray bullet, would automatically be eligible for first-degree murder.

Calls for meaningful law reform

“Today’s announcement also reinforces why I continue to call for meaningful law reform,” he said. “We need stronger deterrence when someone chooses to fire a gun into a private, public gathering, showing complete disregard for human life that law must say in a clear message: that this conduct will be met with the most serious consequences available. Public safety depends on that deterrence.”

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On Wednesday, Toronto Police said officers executed search warrants and arrested Jessiah Massaro-Gill and Lewis Downey, both 18 years old, and charged them each with two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder for the fatal shootings of Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20 on July 11. In total, the accused were slapped with 37 criminal charges.

Police allege that Massaro-Gill and Downey were targeted by the teens.

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Willingness of young people

“Reducing incidents like this to simply gang violence oversimplified a much more complex problem,” Toronto Police Det. Sgt. Stacey McCabe said.

“This investigation is about gun violence and the willingness of young people to use guns with complete disregard for human life and the safety of anyone around them. Two young men lost their lives, five others were injured, thousands of people who came together to celebrate their community witnessed an act of extraordinary violence and that is what needs to be recognized and addressed.”

Police would not reveal if the suspects were known to the victims, nor did they say if the two accused have any gang affiliation.

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