2 Adults, 4 Children Charged in Connection With Armed Robberies in Toronto

Six people, including four children, have been charged in connection with two armed robberies in Toronto from January this year. The accused include a man, a woman, three teenage boys, and a 12-year-old girl. In one incident of robbery, one of the accused brandished a gun while another accused discharged a can of pepper spray at the store employee.

Toronto police has arrested six people in connection to the armed robberies that occurred at two stores in the area of Van Horne and Victoria Park Avenue on January 2 and January 5. The accused include a 21-year-old man named Ronald Irakoze, a 38-year-old woman named Kristine Dorsey, a 12-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old boy.

According to the police, during the first robbery, two female suspects walked into the store and asked to buy cigarettes. Four male suspects then rushed behind the counter and demanded the register to be opened while brandishing a handgun. They hit the employee in the head multiple times before escaping with an undisclosed quantity of cash and various items from the store’s shelves.

In the next incident, three male suspects walked into a store wearing masks, according to the police. One of them reportedly brandished a handgun and pointed it at the employee, demanding the cash register be opened. One of the other male suspects then took out a pepper spray can and discharged it on the employee. The suspects then stole some cash and cigarettes and escaped.

Toronto’s Hold Up Squad investigated a property on January 11 and found two replica handguns that were said to have been used during the robberies. On January 18, three search warrants were carried out and Kristine Dorsey, a 12-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy were brought into custody. Dorsey and the 12-year-old girl have been charged with one count of robbery with a firearm and disguise with intent while the 15-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of the same charges.

On January 23, police arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection with the robberies and charged him with two counts of robbery with a firearm and two counts of disguising with intent. Another suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was arrested on February 8 and charged with robbery with a firearm and disguise with intent.

Then on March 22, Ronald Irakoze, 21, was arrested and charged with two counts of robbery with a firearm and disguise with intent, possession of property obtained by crime, and eight counts of failure to comply with probation.

Vineet Washington