Police Issue Canada-Wide Warrant for Female Suspect in Toronto Murder

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Stacey Downey. Police Handout

Police are searching for a 36-year-old Toronto woman wanted for the alleged shooting death of a 37-year-old man from Brampton, Ont.

Authorities said that Stacey Downey has been charged with first-degree murder. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for her arrest, according to a Sept. 6 Toronto Police Service news release.

Police said they responded to calls of a shooting on Sept. 1 around 6:19 a.m. in the area of Eglinton Avenue West and Times Road.

At the scene, Triston McNally was found with gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were performed, according to the release. McNally was taken to hospital but was later pronounced deceased.

‘A Very Violent Weekend’

The shooting was just one of several over the weekend, TPS said during a Sept. 3 news conference.

“Unfortunately, we had a very violent weekend in the city this past weekend, with 11 shootings taking place across 10 divisions,” said Inspector Paul Krawczyk of the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force.

“There were five firearm discharges, three shootings with injuries, and three homicides. Five of these discharges and shootings happened on Sunday, September 2 alone.”

Police seized six firearms and charged six people in relation to possession of the weapons, a news release said.

Krawczyk said the incidents took place in different areas of the city and they do not appear to be linked.

“I appreciate that events like these can spread fear in the community. We continue to work closely with the city and our community partners in order to get to the root cause of the issue,” he said.

Superintendent Paul McIntyre with the organized crime enforcement unit said police are working with community partners to reach high-risk youth.

“They have a number of programs running right now as we speak that are really getting involved with our youth, that are trying to keep our youth involved in community, staying out of in trouble, attending schools,” McIntyre said during the news conference.

He said that thousands of youths across the city have been engaging with the programs in 2024.

McIntyre said the programs focus on kids who could be vulnerable to joining gangs.

“We make sure that we get them to gang exit strategy,” he said, adding that over 700 youths have been referred to the initiative.

Krawczyk said police need the public’s help to beat the crime.

“If you see something that doesn’t seem right, if you know someone that you believe has a firearm, please call the police or Crime Stoppers.”