Oshawa man among eight charged in major Toronto shootout

A major shootout in Toronto has led to charges for eight people including an Oshawa man.

Gunfire erupted in Queen Street West and Sudbury Street in Old Toronto shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 11. The intersection sits on the west side of Old Toronto just south of Beaconsfield Village.

According to Toronto Police, three men pulled up behind 1196 Queen Street West in a stolen car. The building was being used as a recording studio at the time. All three men were armed with handguns and fired several rounds into the studio.

People inside the studio returned fire causing the first three shooters to duck behind an unmarked police car. Plainclothes officers were already on scene for an unrelated investigation. Several bullets struck the cruiser while two officers were inside.

During the exchange of gunfire, police estimate roughly 100 rounds were fired.

As the original three shooters scrambled to their car and tried to drive away. However, a second unmarked police vehicle arrived as the shooters fled, The second cruiser collided with the escaping stolen car, paralyzing it.

The men inside the car tried to run. Officers arrested one man they believe was part of the trio. Meanwhile, the shooters inside the studio also tried to run. One man believed to have been inside was arrested. Police say he was armed with a pistol.

A later search of the area found several discarded pistols spread around. They had been discarded on the street and in garbage cans. After the shootout, police raided the recording studio, arrested several more people. They also found an arsenal of guns. Many of them had been illegally modified to fire fully automatically.

In all, police arrested 23 people in relation to the shootout, charging eight suspects with 72 charges. Investigators anticipate further charges as the investigation continues. They also seized 16 weapons, mostly handguns and two “assault-style” rifles.

One of the suspects, a 16-year-old Brampton boy, was found to be a suspect of the fatal shooting of poker star Matthew Bergart, 30, in Toronto in April as well. The teen faces a second-degree murder charge in the Bergart case and eight gun possession charges in the studio shootout.

Seven others have also been charged including:

• Osman Aim, 21, of Toronto, faces 17 charges:
  • three counts of discharging a firearm with intent to wound or endanger Life
  • three counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
  • three counts of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
  • three counts of possession of a prohibited device knowing its possession is unauthorized
  • three counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm in a car
  • possession of a firearm knowing the serial number has been tampered with, and
  • possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

Five others all face the same charges:

• Samina Adams, 24, of Toronto
• Samuel Bowen, 24, of Toronto
• Nathaniel Browne, 24, of Oshawa
• Lester Lamptey, 30, of Toronto
• Dante McGregor, 26, of Toronto
  • two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm
  • two counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
  • two counts of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
  • two counts of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
  • possession of a firearm obtained by crime

Finally the eighth suspect, Ras Montague, 20 of Toronto, is charged with two counts of fail to comply with recognizance.

Anyone with information can contact police at 416-808-2500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477)