

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





Police say a leader of a Toronto area gang has been arrested and two other suspects are wanted in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture of two teens following a shootout at a downtown condo.

The incident began at a condo building on Front Street in the early morning hours of April 18.

Hold Up Squad Staff Insp. Mike Earl told reporters on Thursday that members of the ‘Young Buck Killas’ gang were hosting a party at a condo on the 25th floor of the building located at 300 Front Street near Blue Jays Way.

Earl said that a rival gang, referred to as the ‘Queen’s Drive Crips,’ then came to crash a party the Young Buck Killas were hosting at the condo. At around 3 a.m. a shooting broke out between the two groups in the hallway with approximately eight to 10 shots fired from a number of different guns.

Surveillance camera footage that was released by police shows four suspects stepping out of an elevator and then running back into the elevator with guns drawn. The video then shows one of the suspects falling to the ground after being shot at by an unidentified man.

Somehow, the shooting was not reported to police until residents of the building discovered shell casings and bullet holes the following morning.

However, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting Earl said that the partygoers did flee the scene out of fear that police would be on their way and agreed to reconvene at a townhouse on Swansea Mews in the city’s west end.

That’s where Earl alleges that the gang members took the two 17 year old boys hostage after deciding that they had “tipped off” members of the Queen’s Drive Crips about the party.

“They (the victims) thought they were going to meet the people they were at the party with but when they showed up the heads of state blamed the youth for the ambush, held them captive and made them pay,” he said, noting that the victims were known to be friendly with both gangs.

Victims forced to play Russian Roulette with loaded gun

At the townhouse, police say the boys were tied to a chair, beaten and forced to play Russian Roulette with a loaded handgun.

The victims, police say, were subsequently taken to two other addresses in the Lawrence Heights area. Earl said the teens were once again tied to chairs and beaten. At some point, they were also forced to perform sexual acts, police say.

Ransom demands were then made to the victims’ family members and the teens were released on April 21 when the ransom was paid.

It is not clear how much money was paid to the suspects; however Earl said that he doesn’t believe the motive in the case was financial.

“This is more of a fear thing, putting the fear of god into these victims and trying to make a point with the other gangs,” he said.

On April 23, police say 19-year-old Quinton Gardiner, who is allegedly one of the leaders of the ‘Young Buck Killas,’ was arrested and charged with kidnapping related offences.

Two males, a 17-year-old, and 23-year-old Lincoln Anthony Richards, are also wanted on Canada-wide warrants in connection with the case.

The two suspects are facing kidnapping, confinement, assault and weapons charges, Earl said.

“I wouldn’t call this an innocent stranger kidnapping… This is basically gang war kidnapping,” Earl said. “As police officers we don’t pick our victims. We are here to protect everybody. My fear is that there will be a retaliation of some sort in the gang world if we don’t get ahead of this.”

In addition to the two suspects, police are also looking for family members of Lincoln Anthony Richards, who may have been present at the Swansea Mews home during the incident.

“My understanding is and the allegations are that his family members, his mother, grandmother and sister, may have been present at the house when the beatings were taking place,” Earl said.

The suspects were last seen on April 23 or April 24 in the area of Lawrence Heights.

Both are considered to be armed and dangerous.

“I am concerned for public safety. These two individuals need to be off the streets,” Earl said.

Editor's note: This story was modified to remove the name and photo of a young offender who was previously identified by police with judicial authorization.