Police upgrade charges against man accused of random, fatal assault in downtown Toronto in February
Lights on a parked police vehicle flash on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Matt Rourke / AP Photo)
Police have upgraded charges against a man accused of randomly striking and killing a 50-year-old man in downtown Toronto in February.
The incident happened on Feb. 27, at approximately 1:30 a.m., in the area of Elizabeth Street and Dundas Street West, near city hall.
According to police, a man approached a group of people who were outside on a sidewalk and engaged in an altercation. The man, unprovoked, struck the victim in the head, police said.
The victim was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was identified as Gregory Lawrie, 50, of Toronto.
Responding officers searched the area at the time of the incident and located a suspect.
At the time, Taylor Harker, 25, was charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of assault with a weapon, two counts of obstruction of a peace officer, one count of failture to comply, one count of possession of a prohibited device and one count of breach of probation.
In Saturday's release, police said the charges had been upgraded to manslaughter. The accused is next scheduled to appear in court on June 6 at 10 a.m.
Anyone with information, or who was in the area at the time, and witnessed this event, is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400.
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