A robbery and a glance between members of rival gangs sparked a scuffle and a full-blown street shootout that killed Jane Creba and wounded six bystanders on Boxing Day 2005, according to a police affidavit.
The documents, made available to the public by a judge on Tuesday, detail for the first time a police account of the events leading up to the Yonge Street shooting that killed the popular 15-year-old.
The affidavit filed by a lead investigator in the high-profile case is based on interviews with two witnesses and wiretapped phone conversations.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The affidavit states a member of a group of youths from Martha Eaton Way in North York exchanged a look with a member of the Vaughan Oakwood group inside the Eaton Centre.
A 10-second fight broke out between two young men, while the rest of the gang members left the area.
A youth involved in the fracas told police the Martha Eaton Way group then entered Foot Locker, and about 10 or 15 minutes later, the Vaughan member who fought in the Eaton Centre walked into the shoe store.
Outside, a member of the Vaughan group spoke to one of the Martha Eaton Way boys, according to the affidavit. When the 'Vaughan guy' saw the rival pull out a handgun, he started shooting.
Members of the Martha Eaton Way returned fire, according to the account.
The Eaton Centre episode had been preceded by a swarming and robbery shortly before, the youth later told police.
Investigators believe the victim of the robbery was Richard Steele, who lost his bid on Tuesday to avoid testifying in the ongoing Creba trials. He argued being a "rat" would put his life in danger.
Steele was caught in a wiretap saying he was standing "right beside" Creba on the day of the shooting, according to the court documents.
"A guy to my right starts running up with a gun and then a guy to my left pulled out a gun, and I'm right in the middle of it and I ran across the street," Steele was quoted as saying.
"I didn't see her get shot, but I saw her right before she got shot."
More than a month after Creba was killed, Steele entered Sunnybrook Hospital after being shot in the chest during a triple shooting, according to the affidavit.
While Steele was in his hospital bed, a police officer noticed an older bullet wound scar on his chest. After being pressed, Steele admitted he had been shot on Boxing Day, but said it was by a pellet gun, according to the account.
Steele is currently serving a six-month sentence after being convicted of gun and drug charges that became known through the Creba investigation.
A preliminary hearing for the 10 suspects charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder in Creba's slaying begins on Monday
Steele is scheduled to testify on May 7.
With a report from CTV's Chris Eby
