A second man is facing charges as part of the investigation into the shooting at a community barbeque on Toronto’s Danzig Street, which left two dead and 23 injured.
CTV Toronto’s crime reporter Tamara Cherry has learned that a second man is in custody after allegedly threatening to harm people on Danzig Street on the day of the community gathering, where gunfire later erupted during the worst public shooting in the city’s history.
According to court documents, Shaquan Mesquito, 18, faces charges of uttering threats on July 16, the day of the shooting. Sources say the suspect is known on the street as “Bam Bam.”
Mesquito also faces multiple weapons-related charges, including possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace, carrying a restricted weapon, unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a weapon without a licence and carrying a loaded restricted firearm.
Police allege he was carrying a gun when he was pulled off a TTC bus and arrested on July 27.
According to court documents, Toronto police allege that the loaded weapon retrieved was a .22-calibre revolver.
Mesquito is already under a court-ordered weapon ban.
"We don't have information to suggest that that firearm seized at the time of his arrest was used during the Danzig shooting,” said Toronto police Const. Wendy Drummond.
Nahom Tsegazab,19, another man who was previously charged in connection to the Danzig Street shooting, appeared in court Wednesday.
Investigators believe Tsegazab was the intended target of the shooting. They allege that when he was shot, he took out his own gun and began firing it into the crowd.
Tsegazab faces a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm.
Tsegazab lives in the Galloway Road area, while Mesquito lives in Malvern. There have been long-standing feuds between gangs in those two areas.
Despite these new charges, police have yet to lay any charges directly related to the two deaths, or the 23 people injured.
Police are still asking the public to come forward with information so they can lay additional charges.
Both Mesquito and Tsegazab are scheduled to make their next court appearance on Aug. 29, via video link.
