One man dead, other faces murder charge

A Toronto man has been charged with first-degree murder after another man was fatally struck by a subway train at the Bloor/ Yonge station Monday morning.

The accused is expected to appear in court on Tuesday morning. Police have not released the man’s identity.

Police who were called to the station at 10:15 a.m. found a young man, described as being in his early 20s, in severe medical distress. The man, who had been struck by the eastbound train, was taken to a trauma centre where he soon succumbed to his injuries.

Speaking to reporters, homicide Det. Rob North said video from inside the station led police to believe that foul play had occurred.

North said the video shows the victim entering the platform and walking toward the train. Some kind of interaction then occurs with another man and the victim ends up off the platform and in front of the train.

“The video in the subway system is very clear video and obviously we’ve seen something on there that’s caused us some concern,” North said.

What happened Monday remains fuzzy for now, North said. “What I’ll say is that the victim was at track level,” he explained. “Whether (he was) pushed or (he) stumbled is something we’re looking into.”

North said the video does not appear to show any kind of altercation between the two men before the fatal moment. Whatever it does show, though, was clearly telling. It was the tape, North said, that led the first officers on the scene to call in homicide detectives.

North said the station was not particularly busy at the time of the fatal encounter. Still, he urged anyone who was on the eastbound platform at about 10:15 a.m. Monday to call police.

“We have reviewed video and I can tell you there were a number of people awaiting subway service, a number of people who got off the trains who may have information to provide to us,” he said.

Toronto Transit Commission spokesman Brad Ross said fatal attacks on the Toronto subway are rare. No one has died after being pushed in front of a TTC train since 1997, Ross said.

Less than two hours after the station reopened, police closed it again after receiving a report of knife-wielding man on the loose inside.