Man, 18, charged in two Toronto-area synagogue shootings

Toronto police say an 18-year-old man is facing several charges in relation to two March shootings at synagogues.

Police say they found bullet holes in the doors of the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue after responding to gunshots just after midnight on March 7.

Earlier that night, York Region police responded to gunfire at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue in Vaughan, Ont.

In both cases, the buildings were damaged, but no injuries were reported.

Toronto police say a suspect was identified after a lengthy investigation and has now been charged with two counts of discharging a firearm into a place, two counts of mischief to property over $5,000 and one of unauthorized possession of a firearm, among other offences.

Police say they are not naming the suspect as he was 17 at the time of the shootings.

He is scheduled to appear in court in Newmarket, Ont., on May 20.

The synagogue shootings drew widespread condemnation and police said they stepped up patrols around Jewish neighbourhoods and places of worship in response.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2026.

The Canadian Press