Toronto Police announced the arrest of a 20-year-old man and a 12-year-old youth for second-degree murder in a homicide investigation involving a series of violent robberies.
The press conference is available to watch on YouTube.
It is alleged that:
- On Sunday, August 31, 2025, at approximately 6:08 a.m., the victim, a 62-year-old man, was in the in the Queen Street West and Bay Street area when the suspects approached him
- unprovoked, the victim was violently attacked by the suspects with a weapon
- the suspects then fled the area
- the victim attended a hospital with serious injuries and was released
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the victim was located outside without vital signs. Life-saving measures were commenced, but the victim succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The victim is a 62-year-old man. As the victim’s next-of-kin has not yet been located and notified, their identity is not being released at this time.
This is Toronto’s 29th Homicide of 2025.
“Early in this investigation, we learned that this homicide was part of a series of violent attacks that took place on the morning of August 31 in the downtown core,” said Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe of the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit. “All these attacks targeted vulnerable members of our city.”
An image of the timeline of the alleged assaults has been released.
It is further alleged that:
- on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at approximately 5:45 a.m., in the Yonge Street and Dundas Street West area
- the male victim was seated on a public bench when the suspects approached the victim and violently assaulted the victim with a weapon
- the victim managed to escape and fled the area
- the victim and suspects are not known to each other, and this attack was unprovoked
The victim sustained unknown injuries.
It is further alleged that:
- on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at approximately 5:52 a.m., in the Yonge Street and Dundas Street West area
- the 70-year-old male victim was in the area
- the suspects approached the victim and violently assaulted the victim with a weapon
- the victim fell to the ground and the suspects fled the area
- the victim and suspects are not known to each other, and this attack was unprovoked
The victim was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
It is further alleged that:
- on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at approximately 6:25 a.m., in the Gerrard Street West and Yonge Street area
- the 63-year-old male victim was in the area
- the suspects grabbed the victims phone
- the victim attempted to get his phone back
- the victim was pushed to the ground and the suspects fled the area
- the victim and suspects are not known to each other, and this attack was unprovoked
The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
It is further alleged that:
- on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at approximately 8:07 a.m., in the College Street and Yonge Street area
- the male victim was in the area
- the suspect approached the victim, and the victim started to walk away
- the suspect then assaulted the victim
- the victim fled the area
- the victim and suspects are not known to each other, and this attack was unprovoked
- the suspects were arrested a short time later
The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Isaiah Byers, 20, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with:
- Second Degree Murder
- three counts of Robbery
- two counts of Assault with a Weapon
- Aggravated Assault
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Monday, September 8, 2025, at 10 a.m., room 401.
A male youth,* 12, has been arrested and charged with:
- Second Degree Murder
- four counts of Robbery
- two counts of Assault with a Weapon
- Aggravated Assault
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 10 a.m., room 606.
Anyone who was in the area between August 31 and September 4, 2025, and who may have information, security, or dash-camera footage of the area or incident is urged to contact police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
**Please refer to Section 110, Subsection 1, of the YCJA:
110. (1) Subject to this section, no person shall publish the name of a young person, or any other information related to a young person, if it would identify the young person as a young person dealt with under this Act.***
