Trial underway for Toronto rapper accused in fatal Fort Erie shooting

The trial for a Toronto rapper accused of fatally shooting two young women at a Fort Erie house party is now underway.

After a day and a half of jury selection, the crown opened its case playing a nine-minute 911 call from the night 18-year-old Christine Crooks and 20-year-old Juliana Pannunzio were killed.

Christopher Lucas, the man accused of killing two young women at a house party in Fort Erie, was out on bail at the time of the shooting, and failed to appear in court afterwards until his arrest in July of 2021.

Inside court Tuesday, family members of Crooks and Pannunzio sat through an emotional day that included a nine-minute 911 call from the night the 18 and 20 year old were shot and killed.

In that call, the person who hosted the party struggled to give an address and never clearly says a shooting had happened — only mentioning that she heard pops like fireworks and drove away.

The crown outlined its case against Lucas, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.

They plan to call nearly 35 witnesses, using photos, maps, and forensic evidence — including blood from Crooks found on the shoes of another man involved who was previously charged with obstruction.

They also pointed to a music video showing Lucas holding a Glock that was recorded just six months earlier.

The trial is expected to last about nine weeks.

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