Five charged in Brampton double homicide outside school

Peel Regional Police have charged three adults and two youths with connection to a double homicide that occurred at a Brampton school in early April. Officers responded to reports of gunfire near Rutherford Road and Kennedy Road, close to St. Joachim Elementary School and Arnott Charlton Public School around 10:21 p.m. On arrival, they found one adult male with multiple gunshot wounds and a second male youth with a gunshot wound.

Despite medical efforts, both victims succumbed to their injuries. Over the course of several months, investigators identified five suspects and made their arrests between May and July.

The adult suspects are identified as Jahnoi Bell, 21, from Brampton, Mcaium Aarons, 25, from Toronto, and Jayden Christmah, 23, from Orangeville. The two youths, both 17, cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). Bell faces two counts of first-degree murder, while one of the youths is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and multiple firearm-related offenses.

The second 17-year-old faces the same murder charges, along with additional firearm-related offenses such as unauthorized firearm possession, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, knowledge of unauthorized firearm possession, careless firearm storage, prohibited device possession, firearm use contrary to a prohibition order, and firearm with an altered serial number.

Aarons is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and probation breach, while Christmah is accused of possessing a firearm for trafficking purposes.

Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah stated that "two lives were cut short by gun violence, leaving families and a community to grieve." "This investigation has been relentless, and these arrests are an important step toward holding those responsible accountable." The investigation concluded with all five suspects being held in custody pending bail hearings.

Two firearms were recovered during the investigation - one at the homicide scene and another during a search warrant conducted at a Brampton residence. The identities of the two youths were protected under the YCJA.