Danzig Street shooting (also known as the Danzig shooting) was a gang-related mass shooting that occurred on the evening of 16 July 2012 at a block party on Danzig Street in the West Hill neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was the worst mass shooting in Toronto's history at the time.
Background
The shooting took place in a Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) complex in the Scarborough district. The area was a known territory of the Galloway Boys (also known as G-Way), a violent criminal gang that had been involved in a deadly turf war with the rival Malvern Crew in the early 2000s. After many of the Galloway Boys' leaders were incarcerated, they were released around 2010 and began recruiting younger members, who obtained firearms and used them in internal conflicts for control of the gang and territory.
The Event
A children's barbecue was organized at the Danzig Street housing complex for 15 July 2012 by a resident. The event was promoted on social media as a "Hennessy Block Party" by Nahom Tsegazab, a 19-year-old Galloway Boys member, with promises of free alcohol and a DJ. Delayed by rain, the party took place on Monday, 16 July. By evening, the gathering had grown to over 200 people, with loud music and alcohol consumption.
Tensions escalated when members of the Galloway Boys began confronting and ordering people from rival gang territories to leave. Shaquan Mesquito, an 18-year-old alleged Malvern Crew member, was forced to leave and subsequently posted threats on Twitter urging others to "shoot up the party."
The Shooting
At approximately 10:40 pm, Folorunso Owusu, a 17-year-old member of a gang called the Le Side Crew, arrived at the party. He was confronted by Nahom Tsegazab, who displayed a handgun. Owusu opened fire with a 9 mm handgun, shooting Tsegazab twice. Tsegazab fell and fired eleven rounds at Owusu. A third, unidentified gunman then fired fourteen rounds from an Uzi submachine-gun into the crowd.
Twenty-four bystanders were shot, two fatally:
- Shyanne Charles, 14, was struck by several bullets while fleeing and died on the doorstep of 203 Danzig Street.
- Joshua Yasay, 23, a community mentor with an honours degree in criminology who aspired to be a police officer, was shot by a bullet that pierced his heart and lungs.
Three additional people were trampled in the panic, including a pregnant woman. The injured were taken to five area hospitals by sixteen ambulances.
Perpetrators and Convictions
Four young men were convicted in connection with the shooting:
- Nahom Tsegazab pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and six counts of aggravated assault and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was granted day parole in 2020.
- Folorunso Owusu was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced as an adult to life in prison. Although none of his bullets killed anyone, his actions initiated the gunfire that led to the deaths and injuries.
- Naod Tsegazab (Nahom's 15-year-old brother) pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Owusu in a related September 2012 shooting and was sentenced to seven years.
- Shaquan Mesquito pleaded guilty to counselling to commit murder and weapons offences. Murder charges against him were dropped after evidence showed he was 9 km away at the time of the shooting.
Aftermath and Impact
The shooting prompted renewed debate on gun crime in urban areas. The Toronto Police Service launched the Summer Safety Initiative, placing additional officers on foot patrol in high-crime areas. This led to the development of the Neighbourhood Officers Program in 2013, which focused on building community relationships and intelligence gathering. In 2013, Police 43 Division (which includes Danzig Street) reported no homicides.
The shooting also led to the creation of community programs, including Our Space, a drop-in centre at 230 Danzig Street providing after-school programs and employment resources. Memorial scholarships were established at York University and in Shyanne Charles's name.
The incident was referenced in popular culture, including in a track titled "No Guns Allowed" by Snoop Lion featuring Drake, and inspired the founding of the RISE spoken word program in Scarborough.
