A 20-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy have been charged with second-degree murder following the death of a man in a series of violent robberies in downtown Toronto. The incident occurred on August 31, when a 62-year-old homeless man was attacked while sleeping on a bench in Nathan Phillips Square, located near Bay and Queen streets, shortly after 6 a.m.

According to police, the two suspects approached the victim and began to assault him with a hammer without provocation. After the attack, the victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but was later released. Days later, he was found outside without vital signs. First responders attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators have since determined that his death was related to the earlier attack.

Both suspects face multiple charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon. The 20-year-old, identified as Isaiah Byers, is also charged with three counts of robbery, while the 12-year-old, whose identity cannot be disclosed, faces four counts of robbery. Both were scheduled to appear in court last week.

Deputy Chief Rob Johnson stated that police are still working to locate the victim's next of kin and will not release his identity until they have made contact. During a media conference at police headquarters, Johnson emphasized the disturbing nature of the crimes, noting that the robberies targeted vulnerable individuals in the community.

Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe described the series of robberies as “extremely violent.” Approximately 20 minutes before the fatal attack, the suspects allegedly assaulted another homeless man with a hammer near Yonge and Dundas streets. That victim managed to escape, but the extent of his injuries remains unknown. Shortly after, the suspects attacked a third homeless man near Bay and Dundas streets, who also escaped and was treated for serious injuries.

The suspects continued their spree by targeting a 63-year-old man near Yonge and Gerrard streets, where they stole his phone. When the man attempted to retrieve his phone, he was pushed to the ground as the suspects fled. They then approached another man at Yonge and College streets, asking to use his phone. When he refused, one of the suspects allegedly slapped the phone from his hand.

Two nearby officers witnessed the incident and arrested the suspects. Deputy Chief Johnson expressed concern over the increasing involvement of youth in serious crimes, stating, "This is really a call to action with all our community partners to make sure we find a way to intervene when young people are involved with these types of horrendous crimes."

This year, youth have been charged in eight of the 31 homicides in Toronto. Despite a 40 percent drop in shootings and a 50 percent decrease in homicides compared to last year, Johnson noted that each violent incident remains troubling. "While the trends are encouraging, each individual incident itself is problematic, especially when it’s so violent," he said.