The victim of a weekend shooting appeared in a Toronto courthouse after being charged with firearms-related offences.
Terry Nguyen, 29, appeared in the Old City Hall courthouse Thursday afternoon wearing an orange prison jumpsuit pulled up around his neck. He spoke only to give his name, and was told to reappear in court on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Nguyen faces a total of nine charges including possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, careless storage of a firearm and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order. Court records showed Nguyen was sentenced to five years in prison in 2006 for his part in a Windsor home invasion. He was forbidden from carrying a gun.
Nguyen and his 28-year-old girlfriend were eating dinner at a downtown Toronto steakhouse on Sunday evening, when two men entered the restaurant and opened fire on the couple.
Nguyen was treated at a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the neck, while his girlfriend received life-threatening injuries. Police have since said she is expected to survive.
Police said it appears that the victims were targeted by the masked shooters, but have not provided any details on a possible motive.
Sources have told CTV Toronto's Tamara Cherry that he is believed to be part of the gang known as the Asian Assassinz. At least three other alleged members of the same gang have been murdered since 2013.
On Wednesday evening, investigators announced that Nguyen had been charged with the firearms offences, but did not say how many were linked to Sunday's shooting.
Michael's on Simcoe steakhouse, which has been closed since the incident, reopened to patrons on Thursday evening.
The crime scene has been released, but the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with more information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).
With files from CTV Toronto's Tamara Cherry
