Four Toronto teenagers have been charged in connection with a stabbing this summer in Brampton, Ont., that left a 63-year-old man dead and sent his 40-year-old son to hospital, police said Friday.
One of the accused, a 16-year-old boy, is charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder in the attack on Glensbert Oliver and his son Christopher, Peel Regional Police told reporters Friday.
“While these arrests will not bring back Mr. Oliver and by no means heal the Oliver family, it is a message to those who commit these types of offences that you will be held accountable for your actions,” Insp. Michael Pulley said.
A group of five males had allegedly been breaking into cars in a quiet neighbourhood of the city on Aug. 2, when they came to Glensbert Oliver’s home around 2:20 a.m., Pulley said.
One of the youths allegedly broke into the family’s car, which is when the two Oliver men left their home and confronted the group.
Both were stabbed, Pulley said, and Glensbert died in the laneway of his home. Christopher was rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and police say he has since been released.
Investigators are still searching for the fifth suspect and are urging him to surrender.
Pulley credited the community, which provided video and eyewitness statements that helped lead to the arrests.
He said after the stabbing, the group took off in a dark-coloured vehicle, which police were able to identify as a Lexus SUV. They later found the vehicle, which had allegedly been stolen from York Region, Pulley said.
He called Oliver’s death tragic, while offering advice to those who witness crimes in progress.
“Obviously, our approach would be always call 911, be the best witness you can be, provide the best updated information to police, but it’s not worth it to approach somebody,” Pulley said.
“And we’re not trying to judge, by any means, what happened in this tragic situation. But we have to remember that property can always be replaced, but people can’t.”
A 17-year-old boy and two 18-year-old men are charged with possession of property obtained under crime.