Overview
- York Regional Police announced Monday that 23-year-old Chris Perreira of Barrie has been charged in four separate March shootings, including the two attacks on synagogues in Vaughan and Toronto.
- Perreira faces multiple counts that include two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, four counts of reckless discharge of a firearm, two counts of mischief relating to religious property, and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, plus other weapons offences.
- The synagogue incidents occurred just before midnight on March 6 and minutes after midnight on March 7, when gunfire damaged front entrances but caused no injuries at the affected houses of worship.
- Toronto and York police say the arrests follow a joint investigation that previously charged two other suspects and that there are no outstanding suspects in the synagogue shootings while detectives continue to seek public tips.
- Jewish groups have welcomed the arrests but urged investigators to determine whether any foreign actors played a role, citing Canadian intelligence assessments and recent U.S. prosecutions that raised concerns about Iran-linked proxy involvement and possible recruitment of local criminals.