Surprise surprise, suspect in Toronto festival shooting has previous charges smuggling illegal firearms from US to Canada

[u/glassboxecology]

EDIT: I realize now through some of the commenters (thank you) that this suspect was NOT a suspect in the festival shooting, but rather a different shooting that same night in Toronto. I apologize for mis-tagging this idiot to the festival shooting, but my points below still stand. Different shooting, but still an idiot, still a failure of our legislative structure around legal and illegal firearms.

Press release from Toronto Police on Omar Abdul Singateh: https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/66411/

Also arrested in 2025 in Montreal on kidnapping, robbery, and crypto theft: https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/3-men-facing-kidnapping-robbery-and-other-charges-in-crypto-theft-montreal-police/

Also arrested in 2025 on firearms trafficking (out of 100 illegal firearms trafficked, 29 of them were recovered in Canadian crime scenes): https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/two-men-arrested-international-firearms-trafficking-conspiracy

Emailed the below to my MP, feel free to do the same:

Subject: URGENT: The Failure of Current Firearms Policies and the Need for Mandatory Minimums

Dear [Insert MP Name],

I am writing to you today to express my sheer disgust and profound frustration with the current state of our justice system and the misdirected firearms policies enforced by this government. The recent shooting and subsequent arrest at Polson and Cherry Street in Toronto on July 12 is a glaring example of how current legislation completely fails to protect Canadians, while simultaneously punishing law-abiding citizens.

The suspect in this shooting, Omar Abdul Singateh, is not a legal, vetted firearms owner. He is a known, violent criminal with a disturbing track record that the justice system repeatedly failed to address. Based on public reports and press releases, this individual was already known for:
- International Firearms Trafficking: He was previously arrested in connection with trafficking 100 illegal firearms into the country—29 of which have been recovered at Canadian crime scenes.
- Violent Kidnapping & Robbery: He was arrested in connection with a violent breaking and entering, forcible confinement, and cryptocurrency robbery in Montreal.
- The Recent Toronto Shooting: Despite his severe criminal history, he was out on our streets, where he recklessly exchanged gunfire, stole a rideshare vehicle, and struck pedestrians while fleeing the scene.

It is completely unacceptable that an individual with a history of smuggling illegal weapons and violent kidnapping was free to terrorize the streets of Toronto.

While repeat offenders and illegal firearms traffickers are met with a revolving door justice system, this government insists on pouring resources into arbitrary Order in Council (OIC) bans that strictly target legally licensed, heavily vetted, and law-abiding firearms owners. Legal gun owners are not the ones shooting up our streets, yet we are the ones bearing the brunt of the government's "public safety" measures. It is entirely unfair and ineffective to penalize citizens who follow the law while actual threats are repeatedly let out on bail or handed lenient sentences.

Canadians deserve real public safety, not political theater. Therefore, I am urging you, as my elected representative, to push for the following immediate actions:

1. Reverse the OIC Bans: Stop the arbitrary and unfair targeting of legal firearms owners. These bans do nothing to take illegal guns out of the hands of violent criminals.
2. Introduce Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Champion immediate legislation that imposes harsh, mandatory minimum sentences for criminals convicted of smuggling and trafficking illegal weapons into Canada.

Our streets are becoming more dangerous because the government is focusing on the wrong target. We need laws that keep violent, repeat offenders and illegal gun runners behind bars.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this urgent matter and learning what actionable steps you will take in Parliament to address the real source of gun violence in our country.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]

[u/hockeyfanatic777]

I sent one to my MP.

I also added this to mine:

This example was in Toronto, but it applies everywhere. Ontario is a big problem, with many criminals smuggling guns from the US. Those are the majority of weapons used in violent crimes. 

Are we going to ban knives because of all the stabbing in Winnipeg, Thompson, The Pas?

What about hammers? Jerry Kipling was convicted in 2021 for an assault on a teenager in Winnipeg in 2020, where he lodged the claw part of the hammer into the boys skull and brain. He now has life altering issues because of this. Will we ban hammers next?

What about pencils? The same man, Jerry Kipling, stabbed an inmate in jail with a pencil. Will we ban pencils too?

The problems aren’t the tools.. it’s those who misuse them or have violent intentions. Firearm owners already get vetted and are under a watchful eye for these dangerous circumstances. 

We are not the problem. 

Criminals are. 
____________________

Not as well written as yours, my thoughts are pretty disorganized lol but thought I’d add some Manitoba flair to it

[u/CapnFuntime → u/hockeyfanatic777]

Stabbings are why you cant buy a machete in Manitoba anymore. Cause you know that'll stop the criminals 🤷‍♂️

[u/imnotm3h → u/CapnFuntime]

Guess I better get some machetes before the Ontario ban… that way I can still use them at my local machete range

[u/CapnFuntime → u/imnotm3h]

If you dont you'll have to snuggle them in from the next province over like me 🤣🤣