Toronto police faced massive criticism after they decided not to arrest the man who was admitted to a hospital with a gunshot wound after he broke into a CEO's mansion and grievously injured four family members.
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he → face → members
Police said they did not have sufficient evidence to take him 23-year-old Daijohn Richards into custody when he was at St. Joseph's Health Centre before he was discharged on Friday afternoon.
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he → say → afternoon
They questioned him and then let him go.
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him → question → him
Hours later, they published the photo of Richards seeking help in his arrest as he was linked to the violent home invasion at the $2.1 million Toronto mansion of real estate executive David Morton, 75.
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he → publish → Morton
He is now the subject of a Canada-wide arrest warrant, prompting questions about why police did not take him into custody while he was receiving treatment.
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he → prompt → treatment
The decision sparked outrage on social media, with users questioning how a man who had arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound shortly after a violent home invasion could leave without being arrested.
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who → spark → invasion
Why did Toronto police not arrest Richards?
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police → arrest → Richards
Toronto Police addressed the controversy on Saturday, saying investigators had immediately recognized the possible connection between the home invasion and the man who had arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound.
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who → address → wound
We want to address some confusion surrounding the investigation into the home invasion in the Bridle Path neighborhood," the department said in a statement on X.
"
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department → want → X.
Investigators immediately recognized the potential connection between the home invasion and the individual who showed up at hospital with a gunshot wound.
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who → recognize → wound
"
But identifying a potential suspect was not the same as having sufficient evidence to make an arrest, they said.
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they → identify → arrest
"But recognizing a potential suspect and having enough evidence to arrest them are two different things.
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recognizing → recognize → them
Police need reasonable grounds, supported by evidence, to make an arrest," the department said.
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department → need → arrest
Police also defended the detectives involved, praising their "professionalism, tenacity and commitment" and saying the investigation was continuing.
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investigation → defend → professionalism
"Let's keep the focus where it belongs: finding the outstanding suspects and holding those responsible for this violent home invasion accountable," the statement added.
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statement → let → invasion
Inspector Kristy Smith also addressed the issue during a Saturday news conference, acknowledging that questions would arise over why Richards had not been arrested at the hospital.
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Richards → address → hospital
We arrived at the hospital, we made an investigation, and I know the question is going to come about, 'Why did we not arrest him at the time?"' she said.
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she → arrive → time
Under Ontario law, hospitals are required to notify police when treating patients with gunshot wounds.
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hospitals → require → wounds
Officers went to the hospital and had what Smith described as '"numerous interactions" with Richards.
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Smith → go → Richards
However, investigators had not established reasonable grounds to arrest him at that stage.
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investigators → establish → stage
Detectives subsequently made the connection through forensic investigations and inquiries in the neighbourhood, with assistance from the Centre of Forensic Sciences.
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Detectives → make → Sciences
By the time investigators had gathered sufficient evidence, Richards was no longer at the hospital.
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Richards → gather → hospital
Daijon Richards has been named as one of the accused and a nationwide hunt is on.
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hunt → name → accused
Investigators questioned him when he was at a hospital but he was not arrested a that time.
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he → question → hospital
What happened inside the CEO's mansion?
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What → happen → mansion
Morton's wife was struck with a hammer
The investigation relates to a violent home invasion at the Bridle Path residence of Morton, CEO of Toronto-based real estate company MAC Group.
Three masked men armed with firearms and a hammer allegedly forced their way into the property through a rear entrance at around 3.40am on Thursday.
Morton, his 64-year-old wife, Doriana Zohil-Morton, and their daughters Maggie, 28, and Cristina, 26, were asleep when the intruders entered their bedrooms and demanded valuables.
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intruders → strike → valuables
A violent confrontation followed.
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confrontation → follow → ?
Morton and both daughters suffered gunshot wounds, while two members of the family were also struck on the head with a hammer.
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members → suffer → hammer
All four were taken to hospital.
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four → take → hospital
Two have since been discharged, while the other two remain under medical care with injuries described as life-altering.
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two → discharge → injuries
Investigators believe Richards was accidentally shot in the right shoulder by one of his alleged accomplices during the confrontation.
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Richards → believe → confrontation
"We believe that he was accidentally shot by one of the other suspects in this home invasion," Smith said.
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Smith → believe → invasion
The three attackers fled in a dark-coloured SUV.
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attackers → flee → SUV
Police have obtained grainy surveillance images but have not been able to establish the vehicle's make or model.
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Police → obtain → make
Investigators believe the suspects may have selected the wealthy Bridle Path neighbourhood because of the valuables likely to be found inside its homes, rather than specifically targeting the Morton family.
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suspects → believe → family
The sprawling property, valued at approximately $2.1 million, features a swimming pool, tennis court and private gardens.
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property → sprawl → pool
Morton previously told the Daily Mail that his family had experienced a "terrifying and life-threatening experience" in the place where they should have felt safest.
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they → tell → place
"It is difficult to put into words the trauma of experiencing something so horrific in the one place where everyone should feel safest: their own home," he said.
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he → put → place
"No family should ever have to experience this.
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family → have → this
People should be able to sleep peacefully in their homes without fear of armed individuals breaking in and threatening their lives.
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individuals → sleep → lives
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
