Third suspect charged in Vaughan, Toronto synagogue shootings

A York Regional Police badge. The suspect has been charged with numerous crimes including four counts of discharge of a firearm, possession of property obtained by crime and mischief related to religious property. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Postmedia

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York Regional Police have charged a third suspect in connection with a pair of shootings at synagogues in the cities of Vaughan and Toronto in March.

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Chris Perreira, 23, of Barrie, Ont., has been arrested and charged with numerous crimes, including four counts of discharge of a firearm, possession of property obtained by crime and mischief related to religious property, in connection with shootings that occurred at two synagogues on the night of March 6 this year.

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Perreira had previously been charged in connection with a shooting that occurred on March 25 at a residence in the area of Clubhouse Road and Pine Valley Drive in Vaughan. He has now also been charged in connection with yet another shooting that occurred on March 19 in the area of Steeplechase Avenue and Beacon Hall Drive in Aurora, Ont.

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The first synagogue incident took place on March 6, just before midnight, when sounds of gunshots were reported in the area of Clark Avenue West and York Hill Boulevard. York Regional Police saw the front doors of a synagogue had been damaged by gunfire. Two occupants inside at the time were not injured.

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Then, just after midnight, Toronto Police responded to reports of gunshots at a synagogue in the area of Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue. Again, there was damage to the synagogue’s front entrance consistent with gunfire. No one was inside at the time.

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York Regional Police had previously announced that two suspects had been charged in relation to these incidents. They say that with the arrest of the third, there are no outstanding suspects related to the synagogue shootings.

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However, the investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Firearms Investigations Team at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7817. Anonymous tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or at www.1800222tips.com

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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs responded to the news with a statement.

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“The laying of charges against the third and final suspect in connection with the March shootings targeting GTA synagogues marks an important development in this investigation,” the group said. “With no outstanding suspects, we commend Toronto and York Regional Police for their work to identify and apprehend all those alleged to have carried out these attacks.”

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However, they noted that questions remain about who directed those accused of carrying out the shootings.

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“Last week, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw again raised concerns about local youth and criminals being hired to commit acts of violence on Canadian soil,” the group said. “This announcement comes within the broader context of Canada’s Integrated Threat Assessment Centre warning of a ‘realistic possibility’ that Iran’s Islamic regime is directing local criminal elements to target Canadians. As well, the federal government’s Secretary of State for Combating Crime has acknowledged that a ‘foreign entity’ is behind attacks against synagogues in Toronto.”

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