Richard Jonathan Edwin, 39, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kartik Vasudev and Eliza Eleazar Mahepath. Police say Edwin was arrested Sunday night and had a cache full of weapons near him at the time of his arrest. “Any death is tragic, but these men were completely innocent and their killings were completely accidental acts of violence,” police chief James Ramer told reporters on Tuesday. Vasudev, a 21-year-old international student from India, was shot dead at Sherbourne Underground Station on April 7 at around 5 p.m. He was taken to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, where he later died. Two days later, Mahepath was shot several times near the intersection of Dundas Street East and George Street, east of Jarvis, just before 7 p.m. He also died at the hospital hours later. Police believe Edwin was “completely foreign” to both men. Ramer also said the victims did not know each other. Toronto Police Chief James Ramer believes the killings may have been just the “first step” of the suspect if police had not caught him. (Evan Mitsui / CBC)
Edwin had no previous criminal record and was “legally” in possession of his weapons, police said. And while there is no longer a threat to public safety, Ramer said he believes more killings could have taken place if the suspect had not been arrested. “When, I do not know, but he had an arsenal at home,” Ramer said. “Honestly, I think this may have been just the first step.” Vasudev and Mahepath were the city’s 19th and 20th homicides of the year.

Family “grateful” for the arrest

Based on the “nature of the offenses”, Det. Sgt. Terry Browne said police were able to link the two homicides “very quickly”. Ramer says he has launched a “total effort” to locate the suspect, with the help of the Toronto Police Emergency Task Force. Edwin was found and arrested at a home near Bloor Street West and Spadina Avenue on Sunday night. Ramer said he hoped the arrest would provide a “closure cut” for the victims’ families. Kartik Vasudev’s friends and family attended a vigil on Sunday, demanding answers about the circumstances of his death. (CBC)
Vasudev’s family, friends and colleagues gathered for a vigil in Nathan Phillips Square over the weekend, remembering him as a smart and ambitious student. Hailing from India, Vasudev arrived in Canada on January 5 after years of planning his career and a new life here. He was a first-semester student in marketing management at Seneca College and was going to work part-time when he was killed. Brown says he spoke to the victim’s family, who are “grateful” for the arrest. “Obviously they are still in a lot of pain,” Browne said. Police did not provide details about Mahepath Tuesday, except to say that his loved ones described him as a “happy” person. Police say he was just doing business when he was accidentally attacked. “His family is devastated,” Brown said.