Police plead with witnesses to come forward after violent, homophobic assault at Toronto Island
Despite widespread media attention, police say they are still looking for individuals who witnessed a violent and allegedly homophobic assault on a 24-year-old man at the Toronto Island.
The incident took place around 11:30 p.m. on June 5 at the Gerry docks near Hanlan’s Point.
According to police, the victim was assaulted by two men following an interaction in which homophobic comments were made.
Friends have identified the victim as David Gomez. In a post on social media, Gomez said he was “knocked unconscious and nearly beat to death.”
“I was dragged around, kicked and punched in the face.”
Speaking with CTV News Toronto following a surgery for his injuries, Gomez said he was still in a lot of pain.
“I’m scared to leave my home,” he said last week. “It’s been several days since. I only go to and from the hospital now.”
A friend of Gomez’s started a GoFundMe page to help foot his medical bills and told CTV News Toronto that he was shocked when he heard what had happened.
“An incident like this in 2021, where we believe ourselves to be one of the safest places in the country, and you know, one of the safest places in the world, but clearly attacks like this still happen,” he said.
The GoFundMe page, as well as Gomez’s social media page, have been widely circulated since the attack.
However, police say that they have still not received many tips in the investigation.
“I’d implore anyone who has photos, videos, or may have seen anything to please contact us. Even if you think what you saw is irrelevant, tell us anyway,” Det.Cons. Lauren Hassard said in a news release issued Monday afternoon. “The smallest piece of information could be key to this investigation.”
Police are asking anyone who may have been near the docks between 10 p.m. and midnight, or who may have witnessed the assault or the lead up to it, to contact investigators.
Police also said that they would like to speak with two women who were in the immediate area and likely witnessed the assault. They are described as being white, in their 20s with brown hair.
Investigators say the women are not believed to be connected with the victims or the suspects.
Last week, police released a description of three suspects wanted in connection with the assault. No charges have been laid by police so far, but several social media posts have linked an Ottawa Redblacks player to the attack.
The Canadian Football League confirmed that Redblacks defensive linemen Chris Larsen was suspended following “allegations of an assault by a group of individuals” and a pending Toronto police investigation.
In her statement, Hassard said the investigation into the assault was “complex” and involved multiple people.
“I want to assure everyone that we are doing everything possible to ascertain exactly what happened,” she said. “We have to be sure we carry out a thorough investigation, establishing the full facts with evidence to support it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.