Update: Police release the names of the 11 victims – Alek Minassian, 25, charged with 10 counts of first degree murder after driving a van on a crowded Toronto sidewalk

Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill was charged with 10 counts of first Degree Murder and 13 counts of Attempted Murder, after driving a rented van on a crowded sidewalk on Yonge Street in north Toronto.

Detective Sergeant Graham Gibson said the accused rented the white cargo van early in the day on April 23, before driving it to the scene to the area of Finch Ave. and Yonge St. at approximately 1.30 pm.

“As has been reported in the media, the accused is believed to have posted a cryptic public message on Facebook minutes before he began driving the rented van southbound on Yonge St. and onto the crowded sidewalks,” Gibson said in a press conference on April 24th.

The cryptic Facebook message read “Private (Recruit) Minassian Infantry 00010, wishing to speak to Sgt 4chan please. C23249161. The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys. All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!”

Anyone who may need help after witnessing the tragedy can contact Victim Services Toronto, a non-profit organization, is free to anyone. They can be reached at 416-808-7066.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigative hotline at 416-808-8750.

Update April 28th
Toronto police have released the names of the victims in the attack.

  • Ji Hun Kim, 22, of South Korea
  • So He Chung, 22, of Toronto
  • Anne Marie D’Amico, 30, of Toronto
  • Andrea Bradden, 33, of Woodbridge
  • Beutis Renuka Amarasingha, 45, of Toronto
  • Chul Min Kang, 45, of Toronto
  • Dorothy Sewell, 80, of Toronto
  • Geraldine Brady, 83, of Toronto
  • Munir Najjar, 85, of Jordan
  • Mary Elizabeth Forsyth, 94, of Toronto

Update March 3rd 2021

Minassian who is now 28 had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.

Justice Anne Molloy said Alek Minassian carried out the 2018 van attack to achieve notoriety and was fully aware of the devastation he had caused. Minassian argues that he should not be held criminally accountable because of his autism spectrum disorder.

On March 3rd 2021 Molloy found Minassian guilty on all 26 counts and took the unusual step of not naming him in her ruling, saying she’d refer to him only as John Doe because she did not want to contribute to his desire for infamy.

The 2018 Toronto Homicide Victim List is available here.

Update November 12th, 2021
Amaresh Tesfamariam of Toronto who had been in hospital since the attack on April 23, 2018, died of her injuries on Oct. 28, and her death is considered the 98th homicide of 2018.

Toronto police said Tesfamariam’s death is now considered a homicide, but Minassian will not face another murder charge because too much time has elapsed since she was injured.