Unhoused man killed in 'unprovoked' attack on bench near U of T: Toronto police

Ethan Lang · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 21, 2025 2:09 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Toronto constabulary homicide detectives are searching for a antheral who allegedly killed an unhoused antheral successful an unprovoked onslaught adjacent the University of Toronto's downtown field Thursday morning.

Just earlier 8:30 a.m., constabulary responded to a telephone from schoolhouse security, Det. Sgt. Trevor Grieve told reporters astatine a quality league Friday. A antheral had been located connected the crushed with disposable injuries successful the country of Queen's Park Crescent and College Street, helium said.

Campus information attempted life-saving measures, Grieve said, but the antheral was pronounced dormant astatine the scene.

The unfortunate has been identified arsenic Mario Ferreira, 60, of Toronto. Ferreira's adjacent of kin person been informed of the incident, Grieve said.

A post-mortem exam Friday recovered the origin of decease was blunt unit trauma, Grieve said. Homicide investigators are looking into the death, which Grieve said was the effect of a random attack.

Police accidental video of country shows unprovoked attack

Police person obtained and reviewed video footage from the area, Grieve said, which showed an unprovoked onslaught by an chartless fishy astatine astir 5:20 a.m. None of that video has been released to the public.

Grieve said video showed Ferreira was lying connected a seat adjacent 6 Queen's Park Cres. at the time, perchance sleeping. The video past captured another antheral successful the area walking toward the seat with unidentified "debris" successful his hand, Grieve said.

"Without immoderate informing oregon provocation, the fishy approaches Mr. Ferreira, who's lying connected the bench, and helium uses that debris to battle him repeatedly and violently," Grieve said.

The fishy past fled the country connected foot, Grieve said, and was past seen heading westbound connected College Street.

Suspect considered 'armed and dangerous'

The fishy is described arsenic a Black antheral of mean to ample build, weighing astir 200 pounds. He has short, achromatic dreadlocks and a achromatic beard. At the clip of the incident, helium was wearing a beige, camouflage, short-sleeved shirt, with a bluish and achromatic backpack, and achromatic and reddish Air Jordan Nike sneakers. 

The fishy is considered equipped and dangerous, Grieve said. He asked the nationalist not to attack him if they spot him, but alternatively to instantly telephone police.

Grieve urged the fishy to question ineligible counsel and crook himself successful to the police.

Investigators are asking anyone with much information, oregon who has video of the country from the clip of the incident, to travel forward.

Ferreira's death marks the 5th homicide successful Toronto truthful acold this year.