Two Murders In Violent 24 Hours In Toronto

Homicide detectives are busy examining two crime scenes after an extremely violent start to the week which included a fatal shooting and apparent stabbing that happened just hours apart.

Police were called to a fifth floor unit in an apartment complex at 2350 Finch Ave. W., near Weston Road, around 8pm Monday night where they discovered the lifeless body of a woman said to be in her 20s. Reports suggest the victim was stabbed to death in the neck and head.

The woman apparently worked at an Esso gas station across the street from her home and police were called when she failed to show up for work. When cops arrived at the residence they reportedly found no signs of forced entry.

The victim's name and age haven't been released.

This is apparently the third major police call to this newly-built social housing complex and some residents complain it's too dangerous and are considering moving out of the area.

"There's only 25 individuals actually that live in the place. It's brand new. It's a good building, and nobody would have ever anticipated something like this," local Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti said.

Just hours before police were called to the crime scene on Finch a young man was gunned down at an Eglinton Avenue bus stop, near Keele Street, just before 3pm prompting authorities to order five schools in the area to go into lockdown for a couple of hours.

The 18-year-old victim, Stephen Barton (pictured), was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives are still trying to determine if this was a targeted or random shooting. A post-mortem conducted Tuesday confirmed the cause of death was a gunshot wound.

Witnesses said they heard at least two shots.

The triggerman was last seen running northbound on Glenhaven Street, which prompted police to close down surrounding streets in their search for the suspect, who's still at large. He's described as:

• Black,
• 17-20,
• 6'2",
• Hair in corn rows.
• He's also believed to have been wearing a bright blue baggy shirt and dark baggy pants.

These murders weren't the only violent attacks police were called out to investigate Monday. A 15-year-old was stabbed by another teen near Newtonbrook Secondary School at Yonge and Hilda, near Steeles Avenue. The young victim is expected to make a full recovery.

And cops were called to the Jane Street and Harding Avenue area, near Trethewey, after a 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg late Monday night. It's not life-threatening.