A Toronto police officer has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Sammy Yatim.
"A warrant was issued this morning for the arrest of TPS Constable James Forcillo," wrote the province's Special Investigations Unit on Monday morning.
At the moment, Forcillo has not been placed under arrest and he is not expected to make a court appearance today. CP24 has reported that Forcillo is working with his lawyer and the police association to turn himself in on Tuesday morning.
"Police spokesman Tony Vella tells me that he doesn't expect a statement from the chief today re: Yatim charges. Directs questions to SIU," wrote Ben Spurr, a city hall reporter for NOW Magazine, on Twitter. Facillo had been suspended with pay after the shooting.
Police spokesman Tony Vella tells me that he doesn't expect a statement from the chief today re: Yatim charges. Directs questions to SIU
The SIU is an arm's length provincial body that investigates police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. The SIU is responsible for: Consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation, depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge if appropriate.
Yatim was killed in the early morning of July 27 on a Toronto streetcar in the city's downtown. An officer was filmed shooting into the stopped streetcar nine times, and then a taser was also used. The event sparked outrage across the city.
The Yatim family issued a statement on Monday afternoon expressing their gratitude.
"We have been waiting patiently and cooperating with the police investigation and want to hold accountable all those responsible for Sammy's death," the family wrote. "Our family hopes that the SIU investigation will continue looking into the actions of the supervising police officer(s) and the other officers in attendance for their lack of intervention in this tragedy."
Public appetite for the news was also strong. News of the charges being laid have put enormous pressure on the SIU's website.
The shock at the charges coming so quickly on the heels of the investigation is notable. Data provided by the SIU show that, over the past 20 years, only four per cent of complaints actually lead to charges against officers. In fact, according to the Toronto Star, Forcillo is only the seventh on-duty Toronto police officer to be charged with a murder of manslaughter charge since 1990.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair earlier addressed media following the shooting:
The video of the shooting captured national imagination as nine shots were fired, and a taser deployed.
Enhanced video of Sammy Yatim shooting
The Ontario ombudsman's office is also performing it's own investigation into the shooting.
The ombudsman's investigation will not examine the criminality of the Sammy Yatim shooting, but instead will look at the training, policies and procedures that led to it and allowed it to happen. The deescalation of tension and defusing violence should be a bigger priority and training should avoid the use of violence.
Despite the news of the arrest warrant, there is still a lot of questions from people in Toronto about how the Ombudsman's investigation — and police reaction to it — will prevent more police shootings and violence in the future. Skepticism is rampant because so few officers are charged after complaints from the public.
Even Sammy's sister is excited about the news.
On Aug. 13, relatives of other victims, including Trevor Graham, Byron Debassige, Levi Schaeffer, Sylvia Klibingaitis, O'Brian Christopher-Reid, came together in a press conference arranged by the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, to share their stories of police violence and how it has affected their lives.
The families spoke of their grief at seeing another person slain and their frustration that despite the inquires and investigations that follow every death, nothing seems to change.
The entire Yatim family statement is copied here:
The Yatim Family is relieved that the SIU is recommending that charges of second degree murder be laid against Constable James Forcillo. We have been waiting patiently and cooperating with the police investigation and want to hold accountable all those responsible for Sammy's death.
Our family hopes that the SIU investigation will continue looking into the actions of the supervising police officer(s) and the other officers in attendance for their lack of intervention in this tragedy. Over 20 uniformed police officers were present and no one stepped forward to stop the gun shots or offer any mediation. Moving forward we expect complete transparency and accountability.
We want to work now to ensure that Sammy's blood wasn't wasted and to prevent any other families from enduring such a tragedy. We would like to thank the public again for their continued support throughout this trying time for us.
In Peace,
The Yatim Family.
neral.
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