Eight people are facing numerous weapons charges following a shootout between two groups of people outside a recording studio in the city’s west end Monday night that police say saw close to 100 shots fired.
In an update on Thursday morning, police say three individuals pulled up to a recording studio at 1196 Queen Street West just before 11:30 p.m. and opened fire on a group of people gathered outside.
The individuals at the recording studio returned fire, forcing the original three shooters to take cover behind an unmarked police cruiser with plainclothes officers inside, who happened to be in the area for a bail compliance check.
As the three attempted to flee the scene, their stolen car was rammed by another unmarked police vehicle, forcing the trio to escape on foot.
Police say one of the three was captured, but the other two remain at large. Police also recovered several firearms that had been discharged by the fleeing suspects.
The individuals who returned fire from the recording studio attempted to flee the scene by discarding their firearms in garbage bins as they left, according to police. One person was arrested and found to be in possession of a handgun.
Officers also took several other people inside the recording studio into custody while also recovering “numerous firearms.”
Of the 23 people taken into custody, eight have been charged, and police anticipate more charges will be laid as their investigation continues.
Osman Aim, 21, of Toronto, Dante McGregor, 26, of Toronto, Lester Lamptey, 30, of Toronto, Nathaniel Browne, 24, of Oshawa, Samuel Bowen, 24, of Toronto, Samina Adams, 24, of Toronto, and a 16-year-old from Brampton are all facing a combined 67 firearms-related charges while Ras Montague, 20, of Toronto has been charged with two counts of failing to comply with recognizance.
Police also revealed that the Brampton teen has also been charged with murder in the April 25 shooting of Matthew Bergart, who was found suffering from gunshot wounds inside an apartment building in the Lake Shore Boulevard West and Long Branch Avenue area. He later died in hospital.
Police said Bergart was visiting a friend at their home at the time of the incident, which they described as a “violent home invasion.”