A 14-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 71-year-old woman in North York.
Toronto police said Shahnaz Pestonji died Thursday after being stabbed at approximately 9:37 a.m. ET in a plaza at Parkway Forest Drive and Sheppard Avenue East. The suspect fled before officers arrived.
Pestonji was transported to hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police arrested the teenage suspect Sunday following what they described as a coordinated effort by multiple units.
The teen appeared in court Monday via video link at the Ontario Court of Justice on Armoury Street. The case has been adjourned to July 28.
Police initially obtained judicial authorization to identify the youth by name and photograph during their search. That authorization has since expired, meaning the suspect cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact police at 416-808-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.
