Teen arrested in Queen West shooting facing murder charge

A 16-year-old was charged with second-degree murder following a major incident on Queen Street W., where Toronto police say 100 shots were fired outside a recording studio. The teenager, one of 23 arrested during the incident on Monday night, is accused in the killing of 30-year-old Matthew Bergart, who died in an alleged home invasion in the Long Branch Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard W. area earlier this year.

"This situation involved a poor decision to commit a break and enter, which escalated to a murder," Det. Sgt. Brandon Price stated, expressing relief that the teen was apprehended in connection with Monday’s event.

The shootout on Monday took place while plainclothes officers were in the Queen Street W. and Sudbury Street area searching for a robbery suspect, according to Staff Sgt. Joe Matthews. Police allege that a stolen vehicle entered a parking lot nearby, and three individuals exited and fired at the recording studio, where a birthday party was underway. A social media video may have tipped off the gunmen to the studio's location, Matthews noted.

Following the initial gunfire, people inside the studio reportedly returned fire, with some bullets striking an unmarked police vehicle. Despite the extensive exchange of shots, no injuries were reported. "It is a miracle that nobody was injured or killed," Matthews remarked.

Two suspects from the vehicle are still at large, while police detained one person after a foot chase and took others into custody inside the studio. Authorities also seized multiple firearms discarded near the scene, including some found in garbage bins around the studio. The seized weapons were all traced back to the U.S.

Inspector Paul Krawczyk confirmed gang involvement but withheld specific names, saying, "We know where they’re coming from, but I don’t want to give them any advertising whatsoever right now."

Matthews expressed concern over the age range of those arrested, spanning from 16 to 30 years, adding, "It should alarm all of us that young people are already deeply involved in such serious activities and armed with high-powered firearms."

In response to the incident, three Ontario police associations called for immediate federal action on bail reform. Matthews highlighted that two of those charged were out on bail at the time, including the 16-year-old murder suspect, who was under a firearms prohibition. "This points directly to the pressing need for bail reform," Matthews emphasized.