Toronto Crime Stoppers says it will offer an additional $25,000 cash reward for any information leading to the arrest of the shooting suspect. In a Jewish girls' primary school.
The reward was announced on Wednesday and is valid until June 30.
“If you have something to say, speak up and do your part in your community to prevent something like this from happening again,” Toronto Crime Stoppers said in a news release.
Police said they went to Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School, located near Chesswood Drive, Finch Avenue and Dufferin Street, on May 25 and found bullet holes in a window of the school and other evidence of shootings.
Police said video footage showed a dark-colored vehicle parked in front of the school and two suspects wearing dark clothing began shooting at the school around 4:50 a.m.
Police said no one reported hearing gunfire in the area, no one was injured and no one was in the school at the time of the incident.
Rabbi Yaacov Vidal of Baischa Yamushka Elementary School said some students were apprehensive about attending classes on Monday after Saturday’s incident, but everyone showed up for class.
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“We are united, we are resilient, we are optimistic, we have faith in God, and we will not be intimidated,” Vidal said in a telephone interview.
Police said it was not yet clear whether the shooting was motivated by hate, but politicians condemned it as an anti-Semitic act.
Paul Krawczyk, an inspector with the Gun and Gang Task Force, said at a press conference that day that while police “will not ignore the obvious, they will not investigate this case as a hate crime at this time.”
Meanwhile, Jewish community members, supporters and politicians gathered at the school for a rally last Monday morning, with speakers calling for strength and unity.
Daniel Held, chief program officer for the UJA-Federation of the Greater Toronto Area, said the rally was intended to show “what it means to live in tolerance, peace and love for one another.”
“(The shooting) was intended to spread fear throughout the Jewish community, to make us cower and hide our identities, but as you have seen today, the attackers have completely failed,” he said. “We are more determined than ever to fight anti-Semitism wherever it occurs.”
Premier Doug Ford also made controversial remarks at an unrelated press conference. He accused people of bringing The Ontario government is blaming the province for “problems around the world” following the recent shooting at a Jewish girls' school in Toronto.
There is no indication from police that any of the suspects involved are immigrants, but Ford seemed to suggest that: “Before you plan on moving to Canada – if you're going to start terrorizing communities like this, don't come to Canada.”
Police said they were searching for two suspects who fled in a dark-colored vehicle and were wearing dark clothing. Videos and photos All have been released by the police.
Tips can be left anonymously at Crime Line at 416-222-8477.
“If eligible, Toronto Crime Stoppers will guarantee your anonymity and you will not be required to testify in court,” Crime Stoppers said.
— With files from The Canadian Press and Global News Aaron D'Andrea
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
