TORONTO – A Toronto police officer is set to appear in court, Tuesday, to face a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim on a TTC streetcar.
On Monday, the Special Investigations Unit charged Const. James Forcillo with second-degree murder, and issued a warrant for his arrest Monday morning.
Forcillo surrendered Tuesday morning after arrangements were made through his lawyer, Peter Brauti.
He was then be transported to the Old City Hall for the court appearance. Toronto Police said he will remain suspended with pay throughout the court process.
“The director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Toronto Police Service (TPS) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Adib Yatim in July of 2013,” a SIU news release said.
Sammy Yatim died on July 27 after being shot multiple times and Tasered on an empty streetcar.
Nine shots can be heard on cellphone videos that captured the incident, following shouts for Yatim to drop a knife.
The final six shots appear to come after he had already fallen to the floor of the streetcar.
Meantime, family friend Joseph Nazar told our sister station, 680News in Toronto, he spoke with Yatim’s mother shortly after the news of the charge was made public Monday morning.
“She was pleased that justice has taken place — the first stage of it. Secondary, of course, her son is never going to come back. The boy is dead. We have to accept that,” Nazar said.
“[The family is] very isolated, they’re very upset. The wife has had her [world] turn upside down, we have to remember that. The father lost a boy, the mother lost a son, and the sister lost a brother, so it’s not easy.”
He added that he supports the police, but the family continues to look for justice for Sammy.
“The action of one police officer does not indicate our feeling toward the police. We admire, we respect the police highly from the Chief down to every force,” he said.
“It was a good step and that’s a proper thing [that] the SIU did. Justice has prevailed, and the one who did the shooting, he will have his day in court like anybody else.”
The Yatim family says they will be meeting with the SIU later Monday and will provide a statement at that time.
Yatim’s sister took to Twitter Monday morning, Tweeting “The SIU charged the cop with 2nd degree murder!!! Good morning justice.”
Former Toronto Police officer and security expert Ross McLean told 680News, this type of situation is an officer’s worst nightmare.
“[It’s] the worst thing you want to have happen, and you just can’t help but for your mind to go there, so there’s no doubt that it’s absolutely devastating on the officer, and it’s going to have a lot of stress for him.”
McLean added that it will be a very difficult process for Forcillo and it may take years.
Earlier this month, Police Chief Bill Blair announced Justice Dennis O’Connor would be spearheading an independent review of the incident.
However, there are no plans at this time for Blair to make a statement on Monday’s developments.
Listen to 680’s Momin Qureshi interview Mike McCormack, president of the Toronto Police Association, regarding the second-degree charge of Const. Forcillo.
Official statement from the Yatim family:
The Yatim Family is relieved that the SIU is recommending that charges of second degree murder be laid against Constable James Forcillo. We have been waiting patiently and cooperating with the police investigation and want to hold accountable all those responsible for Sammy’s death.
Our family hopes that the SIU investigation will continue looking into the actions of the supervising police officer(s) and the other officers in attendance for their lack of intervention in this tragedy. Over 20 uniformed police officers were present and no one stepped forward to stop the gun shots or offer any mediation. Moving forward we expect complete transparency and accountability.
We want to work now to ensure that Sammy’s blood wasn’t wasted and to prevent any other families from enduring such a tragedy. We would like to thank the public again for their continued support throughout this trying time for us.
Our family has retained the Law Firm Lawrence Lawrence Stevenson (Lead Council will be Ed Upenieks). A press conference will be arranged and details of those arrangement to follow to the media. All Statements from the family will be made at that time.
In Peace, The Yatim Family.
The following is a statement from Chair Alok Mukherjee on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board:
The Board notes that, today, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has caused a charge of second-degree murder to be laid against P.C. James Forcillo in relation to the death of Mr. Sammy Yatim. The Board recognizes that this is a difficult time for all parties involved.
The Board expects that all facts related to this matter will come to light during the court proceedings. As the matter is now before the courts, the Board will make no further comment.
