Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack said Forcillo was “shocked and disappointed” by the verdict, which sends a “chilling message” to front-line officers.
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A Canadian policeman was found guilty Monday of attempted murder in the fatal shooting of a knife-wielding teenager on a Toronto streetcar in July 2013.
The officer pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in Yatim’s death.
Nine shots were eventually fired, killing the young man of Syrian origin who arrived in Canada five years earlier with his family. There was increased police presence outside the courthouse as the end of the trial approached.
The jury heard that Yatim had consumed ecstasy at some point before boarding a streetcar, where videos showed him exposing himself and pulling out a small knife, causing panicked passengers to pour out of the vehicle when it came to a stop. He was released on bail shortly after his arrest and has been working at Crimestoppers since February 2014 after his suspension was lifted. Forcillo pointed his gun at Yatim and repeatedly yelled at the teen to drop the knife he was holding.
Forcillo vehemently denied the charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder during the two-year long trial, arguing he acted in self-defense.
June 17, 2014: Forcillo is committed to stand trial on his second-degree murder charge after the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry.
The Crown argued Forcillo acted as “a hothead and a bully” when he shot Yatim eight times while the teen was inside an empty street vehicle.
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Saunders cited recommendations from a report called Police Encounters With People in Crisis, which was prompted by Yatim’s death.
