The Toronto 2024 Homicide Victim List is available here

Toronto police announced that on April 21, 2024, an inmate was assaulted by another inmate at the Toronto South Detention Centre.

The victim, Ibrahim Ali., 31, of Toronto, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital, where he remained in critical condition until he died of his injuries on April 29th.

Samuel El Hasheem, 27, of Toronto, was charged with attempted murder on April 21st. Investigators said his charges are expected to be upgraded to second-degree murder at his next court appearance.

Update: According to the Toronto Star, El Hasheem Samuel fatally assaulted his cellmate, 31-year-old Ibrahim Ali, after experiencing severe psychosis and believing Ali was a demon threatening his family. Before and during the attack, Samuel repeatedly pressed the cell’s emergency call button, but correctional officers failed to respond.

Both men were in pre-trial custody and living with serious mental illnesses. A judge later found Samuel not criminally responsible for second-degree murder due to a mental disorder, ruling that he could not understand his actions were morally wrong.

Evidence presented in court revealed multiple systemic failures, including inadequate mental health treatment, improper supervision, and missed emergency responses. Ali’s family has filed a lawsuit against the Ontario government, arguing his death was entirely preventable. The case has renewed calls for major reforms to mental health care and safety in Ontario’s correctional system.