Mystic Point
Active Member
JOSH WINGROVE
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
February 13, 2009 at 10:00 PM EST
TORONTO — A man is in custody and facing three attempted murder charges after an unprovoked attack on a group of teenagers at a subway station Friday left two youths on the tracks, in the path of an oncoming train.
Five boys, 15 and 14, were on the Dufferin Station platform when a man approached them – apparently without provocation – and shoved three of them, sending two off the ledge at 4:50 p.m. The suspect was known to police, Toronto police Constable Tony Vella said.
“We're still trying to figure out exactly what the motive was,†he said.
The boys were left on track level, about a third of the way into the station as an eastbound train pulled in.
The driver of the approaching train saw them and hit the brakes, TTC spokesman Brad Ross said. As the heavy train slowed, the 14-year-old boy rolled out of the way, under the platform, and pulled the older boy back with him as the train bore down. Neither touched the electrified bar.
The second boy was partially struck, his left foot trapped under the second car of the subway by the time it ground to a halt.
Their three friends were left on the platform, as the man started to flee.
The injured boys were shaken up and taken to the Hospital for Sick Children. The trapped one is expected to lose some toes, but they're all expected to recover.
“It's an incredible trauma to suffer to be pushed in front of a train like that, and we're extremely grateful they were not killed,†Mr. Ross said. “I can't imagine what they must be going through.â€
As passersby tried to help the two trapped boys, the three other teens chased the suspect. A TTC collector tried to stop him but the man pushed him away and ran outside. Soon afterward he was tackled by the TTC collector with the help of another witness, and held until police arrived. The man under arrest fought back, and will now face assault charges for his actions against the TTC collector and the Good Samaritan.
“It could have been much worse, but fortunately, it wasn't,†Constable Vella said.
Adenir DeOliveira, 47, of Toronto, will appear in court at Old City Hall Saturday to face the five charges.
As emergency crews came, the three boys who were not trapped ran back to the platform. One pulled a lever to kill power to the train, while the other two hushed the crowd to make sure their friends were okay and could hear them.
“All working together,†Constable Vella said. “It was great thinking.â€
It's not thought the assailant knew the teens. “I highly doubt [the boys] knew him… I would be flabbergasted,†Sergeant John Dubreuil said.
He praised the five teenagers, aged 14 and 15.
“These kids are absolutely brilliant,†he said. “Fr 14 years old, I'm very impressed.â€
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
February 13, 2009 at 10:00 PM EST
TORONTO — A man is in custody and facing three attempted murder charges after an unprovoked attack on a group of teenagers at a subway station Friday left two youths on the tracks, in the path of an oncoming train.
Five boys, 15 and 14, were on the Dufferin Station platform when a man approached them – apparently without provocation – and shoved three of them, sending two off the ledge at 4:50 p.m. The suspect was known to police, Toronto police Constable Tony Vella said.
“We're still trying to figure out exactly what the motive was,†he said.
The boys were left on track level, about a third of the way into the station as an eastbound train pulled in.
The driver of the approaching train saw them and hit the brakes, TTC spokesman Brad Ross said. As the heavy train slowed, the 14-year-old boy rolled out of the way, under the platform, and pulled the older boy back with him as the train bore down. Neither touched the electrified bar.
The second boy was partially struck, his left foot trapped under the second car of the subway by the time it ground to a halt.
Their three friends were left on the platform, as the man started to flee.
The injured boys were shaken up and taken to the Hospital for Sick Children. The trapped one is expected to lose some toes, but they're all expected to recover.
“It's an incredible trauma to suffer to be pushed in front of a train like that, and we're extremely grateful they were not killed,†Mr. Ross said. “I can't imagine what they must be going through.â€
As passersby tried to help the two trapped boys, the three other teens chased the suspect. A TTC collector tried to stop him but the man pushed him away and ran outside. Soon afterward he was tackled by the TTC collector with the help of another witness, and held until police arrived. The man under arrest fought back, and will now face assault charges for his actions against the TTC collector and the Good Samaritan.
“It could have been much worse, but fortunately, it wasn't,†Constable Vella said.
Adenir DeOliveira, 47, of Toronto, will appear in court at Old City Hall Saturday to face the five charges.
As emergency crews came, the three boys who were not trapped ran back to the platform. One pulled a lever to kill power to the train, while the other two hushed the crowd to make sure their friends were okay and could hear them.
“All working together,†Constable Vella said. “It was great thinking.â€
It's not thought the assailant knew the teens. “I highly doubt [the boys] knew him… I would be flabbergasted,†Sergeant John Dubreuil said.
He praised the five teenagers, aged 14 and 15.
“These kids are absolutely brilliant,†he said. “Fr 14 years old, I'm very impressed.â€
