Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Toronto police have released the identity of a homeless man who was killed in a violent, unprovoked attack outside City Hall last September in hopes of finding his next of kin.
The 62-year-old man has been identified as Joseph Eric Aubin.
Investigators have charged a 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man in connection with the murder, they say. Part of a disturbing series of violent, unprovoked attacks Targeting vulnerable individuals in the downtown core.
Police allege Aubin was attacked with a hammer on the morning of August 31 near Queen Street West and Bay Street. He was treated at the hospital for serious injuries and released, but was found to have no significant symptoms on September 4.
Police said at the time that the attack on Aubin was one of five separate incidents in the span of just two hours around Yonge Street:
- 5:45 a.m. – A man sitting on a bench near Yonge and Dundas was attacked with a weapon. He survived with unknown injuries.
- 5:52 am – A 70-year-old man was attacked in the same area and was admitted to hospital with serious injuries.
- 6:25 am – A 63-year-old man was robbed of his phone and pushed to the ground near Gerrard and Yonge. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
- 8:07 am – A man was attacked near College and Yonge after he tried to get away. He also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
“This was a very disturbing crime,” said Det. Sergeant Stacey McCabe said at the time, noting that none of the victims knew the suspects.
Isaiah Byers, 20, of Toronto, has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.
A 12-year-old male youth, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with second-degree murder, four counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a weapon and the same charges of aggravated assault.
“Despite extreme efforts, police are still unable to notify Mr. Aubin’s next of kin of his passing,” investigators said in a statement, appealing for the public’s help. “Mr. Aubin goes by the name ‘Eric’ and is believed to be from Quebec.”
Files from Lucas Casaletto were used in this report