Markham man, 21, charged in playground shooting

A 21-year-old man from Markham has been charged with attempted murder after two young sisters were injured in a shooting at a Toronto playground.

Sheldon Eriya was arrested in Pickering on Friday and charged in the brazen daylight shooting that sent the girls, aged five and nine, to hospital Thursday, Toronto police said Saturday.

Eriya is facing two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm, possession of cocaine for the purposes of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of a crime, police said.

Police said the public has been “extremely helpful” but declined to comment further other than to say they’re still looking for two suspects.

Investigators have said that a man approached an east Toronto park where 11 children were playing and opened fire at another man nearby.

The young sisters were struck, and were rushed to hospital with serious gunshot injuries.

The girls’ family released a statement on Saturday evening thanking the community, police and the mayor for their support.

“The response has been overwhelming and we can’t express our gratitude enough,” the family said in the statement released through the SickKids Hospital.

“At this time the focus is on the recovery and rehabilitation of the girls,” it said. “We ask that you keep them in your prayers for a speedy recovery.”

Mayor John Tory said he spoke to the girls’ mother earlier Saturday and she said they were doing “very well” since surgery.

To the two at-large suspects, Tory warned they would be better off turning themselves in to face their day in court rather than waiting for police to track them down. “We show no mercy to people who have engaged in this kind of behaviour,” he said.