Toronto police have a man in custody in connection with two recent homicides, including the death of a Seneca international student last Thursday.
They arrested 39-year old Richard Jonathan Edwin on Sunday and charged him with two counts of 1st-degree murder.
Police say they also found rifles, handguns, and loaded magazines at his residence.
Toronto Police Chief James Ramer believes his officers may have prevented more shootings.
“Was something planned for the future? We don’t know that,” Ramer told reporters at a press conference Tuesday. “We do know it’s not going to happen, and it’s not going to happen because quick action was taken.”
The first shooting occurred Thursday evening.
Kartik Vasudev, 21, was an international student at Seneca College who arrived in Canada four months ago. He was shot multiple times outside Sherbourne subway station and later died from his injuries in hospital.
“He was shot multiple times and he was in a defenceless position the whole time,” Detective Sgt. Terry Browne told reporters.
The second homicide took place two days later.
Elijah Eleazer Mahepath was shot several times on Dundas street, east of Jarvis around 7 p.m. Saturday night.
Mahepath died in hospital later that night.
Police stated the accused has no prior criminal record. They don’t think he had any connection to the victims.
Police don’t believe the shootings were hate crimes due to their random nature.
“It was a chance meeting, a chance passing. And for reasons that are only known to the suspect, these two people were victimized on that day and now are dead,” said Browne
Chief Ramer said the homicides prompted police to station more officers on the subway to reassure passengers.