Toronto police say an 18‑year‑old male from Vaughan has been arrested in connection with two suspected hate‑motivated assaults with an imitation firearm, both targeting members of the Jewish community in North York over the past week.
The most recent incident happened around 10:49 p.m. on Thursday at Congregation Chasidei Bobov synagogue in the area of Bathurst Street and Hwy. 401.
Police say a vehicle drove past the synagogue and someone opened fire toward a small group, described by local authorities as visibly identifiable members of the Jewish community, as they gathered outside.
One person was struck and suffered minor injuries. Toronto Fire crews also responded to assist at the scene.
In an afternoon update, police said that one suspect, 18-year-old Ruslan Novruzov of Vaughan, was in custody and that it’s being treated as a suspected hate-motivated crime.
“We recognize that Jewish residents have been living with a heightened sense of fear due to repeated incidents targeting their community,” said Deputy Chief Joe Matthews. “This only adds to that, which is completely unacceptable.”
18-year-old linked to similar shooting in North York last week
The accused is believed to be responsible for a similar shooting with a replica firearm on April 30 in the Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue West area. In that incident, police say three victims, again defined as clear members of the Jewish community, were walking outside when a suspect, who was in a vehicle, discharged a weapon at the victims (described as an Orbeez-type gun).
One person suffered minor injuries, and police say the suspect fled the area in a blue SUV.
The 18-year-old from Vaughan is facing four counts of assault with a weapon and two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
“Both incidents are being investigated as suspected hate-motivated offences,” said Matthews.
Premier Doug Ford addressed the Thursday night shooting in a post on X, writing that he was disgusted by the string of recent antisemitic attacks targeting the Jewish community in North York.
“These attacks will not be tolerated, and I’m pleased the Toronto Police have acted quickly in response and have a suspect in custody,” Ford stated. “I expect that all those who are responsible will be punished to the full extent of the law.”
The latest incident comes amid heightened concern about antisemitic violence in the GTA. On Wednesday, York Regional Police announced the arrest of an 18-year-old male in connection with two separate synagogue shootings in Vaughan and Toronto, where bullets were fired into the buildings overnight.
The accused was not named as he was 17 years old at the time of the offences. Police have not linked the two cases.
“Let’s be clear: using any type of firearm — real or replica — to terrify a community is criminal,” Toronto police said in a statement on Friday.