Three teens charged in connection with Richmond Hill cinema shootings

Three youths have been arrested and charged in connection with a series of shootings that occurred at a cinema in Richmond Hill, some of which while moviegoers were inside.

Police have laid a total of 109 charges against the suspects after a long investigation, police said in a news release.

The first shooting reported at the cinema in the East Beaver Creek Road and Highway 7 area took place on May 17. The second one occurred just two days after the first. The third incident was another five days after that, on May 24,.

Police say that they also believe that the same suspects shot at an elementary school near 16th Avenue and Bayview Avenue, at around 3:15 a.m. on June 29. It was reported two days later, and video footage of the incident was released.

The suspects used different vehicles during each occurrence and the shots were fired from inside the vehicle in each case, as seen in the videos released by the police.

No injuries were reported, and the motives remain unknown.

York Regional Police Const. Kevin Nebrija told CTV News Toronto the video evidence provided by the community from the scenes helped in identifying the suspects' vehicles and ultimately, the three suspects.

"These were targeted incidents," Nebrija said. "In terms of why they were firing the guns, that is a part of the investigation."

The suspects have been linked previously to multiple crimes including "threats of violence, in some cases with a firearm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assaults and thefts" in and around Markham, Richmond Hill and the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, according to the police.

Two of the three suspects were out on release orders at the time of the incident. The third suspect was found breaching his Youth Criminal Justice Act sentencing conditions, police said.

Police say there is no indication whether these incidents are in any manner linked to a higher, organized crime level.

Police Chief Jim MacSween called it "extremely concerning" that the young suspects were allegedly committing criminal offences while out on bail.

Two of the suspects are 15 years old while the third is 16 years old.

“Our bail system needs to address recidivist offenders who are one of the greatest threats to public safety," MacSween said.

Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to get in touch with the police.