Toronto police have connected dozens of recent shootings to a gun-for-hire network and announced charges related to the fatal shooting of Constable Marc Pinizzotto. Constable Pinizzotto, 43, was shot early Thursday morning, June 11, 2026, while officers executed a search warrant at an apartment building in northwest Toronto.

Toronto police chief Myron Demkiw stated that young adults and teenagers are recruited for these shootings through messaging applications such as Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. He said that shooters are required to film their attacks to receive payment. "Who is paying for this?" Demkiw said. "This is what we are trying to determine."

Police have charged 19-year-old Nicholas Bennett with first-degree murder in connection with Constable Pinizzotto's death. Bennett remains hospitalized. Additionally, 18-year-olds Jayon Burgher and Sheldon Tracey-Stewart face charges for their roles in some of the shootings.

Investigators are searching for 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, who police have linked to a March attack at the U.S. consulate. No one was injured during that incident. Police seized two handguns during recent raids that could be connected to 27 separate shootings across the Greater Toronto Area. Investigators believe these seized firearms were passed between multiple shooters.

Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews said, "While we've been able to connect these firearms to numerous instances, we are still working to identify not only the individuals responsible for pulling the triggers but also those who may have directed or organized these acts of violence." He added that specific shootings targeting synagogues and Jewish schools exhibit a recurring modus operandi involving hired criminals. Investigators are working with the FBI on these investigations.

"It is clear that some of the people hiring these criminals want to create a sense of fear in our communities, including in the Jewish community." He said.