Substantial rise in police calls and a spike in violent crimes in the York Region
This increase in violent crime coincides with the investigation into the deaths of two women from Markham, Ont., who were found dead in recent months.
Police in York Region report a significant rise in violent gun crimes, including homicides, shootings, and carjackings, since January.
York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween expressed concern over the surge, although the region remains one of the safest in Canada. So far this year, there have been 46 shootings, marking a 92 percent increase from the same period last year.
The number of homicides has nearly doubled, with 15 reported compared to eight last year. Additionally, there have been 64 violent carjackings, representing a 106 percent increase over last year's figures.
This increase in violent crime coincides with the investigation into the deaths of two women from Markham, Ont., who were found dead in recent months.
Last week, police confirmed that Yuk-Ying Anita Mui, a 51-year-old realtor from Markham, was murdered. Her remains were discovered in Parry Sound, Ont., on August 12, following her family's report of her missing on August 9.
In a separate case, police charged a man with murder in connection with the death of another missing Markham woman. The coroner identified remains found in Kirkfield, central Ontario, as those of Ying Zhang, who had been last seen in Markham on July 25.
