In a harrowing incident that has left the community in shock, a 62-year-old man was fatally assaulted in Nathan Phillips Square while he slept on a bench, marking a dark chapter in Toronto's recent string of violent attacks.

Youthful Perpetrators Behind Unprovoked Violence

A 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man, Isaiah Byers, have now been charged in connection with these brutal and unprovoked attacks that targeted the city's most vulnerable.

A Series of Alarming Assaults

The shocking spree unfolded on August 31, just after dawn, extending over a mere two-and-a-half hours. According to police, none of the victims had prior interactions with the assailants, rendering the violence even more disturbing.

"All of these attacks were extremely violent and they targeted vulnerable members of our city," said Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe at a recent press briefing. Disturbingly, three of the five victims were homeless at the time.

Timeline of Terror

The chaos began around 5:45 a.m. at Yonge and Dundas, where the initial victim, seated on a bench, was assaulted by a suspect wielding a hammer. Thankfully, he managed to escape with injuries that remain unspecified.

Just minutes later, at 5:52 a.m., a 70-year-old man fell victim to another attack in the same vicinity. Assaulted with a weapon, he was found lying on the ground and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.

Horrifically, the assailants found their next target at Nathan Phillips Square around 6:08 a.m.—the sleeping 62-year-old man. They struck him with unrelenting violence, armed again with a hammer. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries on September 4.

A Pattern of Violence Escalates

The rampage didn't stop there. Shortly after the murder, the suspects approached a 63-year-old man at Gerrard and Yonge, snatching his phone and pushing him down when he resisted. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The final incident occurred around 8:07 a.m. near College and Yonge, where the suspects attempted to take a man’s cellphone, resulting in a physical altercation.

Swift Arrests, Growing Concerns

Thanks to vigilant officers from the 52 Division, the suspects were apprehended shortly after their last attack. Both Byers and the unnamed minor are facing serious charges including second-degree murder and assault with a weapon.

Of particular concern is that both suspects were already under release orders at the time of their arrests, raising questions about the systems in place to prevent such tragic outcomes.

Community on Edge: Call for Immediate Action

As police continue to investigate, they urge anyone who encountered the suspects to come forward.

Toronto's Deputy Chief Robert Johnson described the wave of youth violence as "unbelievable," highlighting another recent case involving a 16-year-old charged in the shooting death of an eight-year-old boy. Johnson stressed the need for local partnerships to curtail this troubling trend.

The string of horrific offenses calls for immediate community action to protect vulnerable citizens and prevent further tragedies in the city.