Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old Toronto man in the city’s east end last summer has topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives, police announced Tuesday.
A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Michael Bebee, a 35-year-old wanted in connection with the murder of Shamar Powell-Flowers exactly nine months ago.
The reward was announced Tuesday as Toronto police unveiled the “be on the lookout” (BOLO) program’s updated list of the Top 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada.
Speaking at a news conference, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said at the time of Powell-Flowers’ murder, Bebee was under a gun prohibition for his role in another Toronto shooting four years earlier.
The victim’s family released a statement Tuesday, saying that are still grappling with the loss of the 29-year-old, who was shot and killed near Danforth and Carlaw avenues in the early morning hours of July 23, 2023.
“For nine months, we have been crippled not only by grief, but by the realization that there are people out there who could help us, but who instead have chosen to remain silent,” the statement read.
“People who could step up as our amazing Shamar would have stepped up for them had the tables been turned, had someone not chosen to carry a gun and fire a shot that left a hole in his heart and our hearts and the hearts of so many others.”
They described Powell-Flowers, a construction engineer, as “brave, loyal, ambitious, highly intelligent, and hardworking.”
“He was a guardian angel and guiding star who was always trying to save others. How cruel it is that this loving and beloved man, our Shamar, could not be saved himself, and was left to die alone.”
In total, the BOLO program is offering $1 million in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects on the list.
In total, six Toronto suspects were placed on this year's list, including Cristian Cuxum, who is wanted for the October 2022 murder of Edwin Alvarado.
Alvarado was shot and killed at La Liga Sports Complex, an indoor soccer and basketball facility near Finch Avenue West and Dufferin Street, on the evening of Oct. 9, 2022. Police said $100,000 reward is also on offer for information leading to the arrest of Cuxum.
Deshawn Davis is listed as the 11th most wanted fugitive on the list for his alleged involvement in the abduction of Elnaz Hajtamiri.
Hajtamiri was abducted on Jan. 12, 2022 from a residence in Wasaga Beach and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Max Langlois, the director of BOLO, said since the program was launched six years ago, about 30 to 35 per cent of rewards that were offered have been collected.
Not including the suspects on this year’s list, Langlois said 21 of 58 suspects highlighted by the program have been arrested.
“I can tell you without a doubt, the vast majority of these cases have progressed in terms of investigative leads,” Langlois said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.