Suspect in Salsa on St. Clair shooting appears in court; co-accused due next week

Lewis Downey, 18, appeared in Toronto court Thursday in connection with the deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival on July 11, when gunfire erupted near St. Clair Avenue W. and Arlington Avenue, killing two people and wounding five others.

Downey appeared via video link from the Toronto South Detention Centre. His defense team, hired Wednesday, requested a three-week adjournment to receive disclosure from the Crown. The court adjourned his proceedings to September 10, pending receipt of that disclosure.

Downey and co-accused Jessiah Massaro-Gill, both 18, were arrested on August 5, weeks after the shooting. Toronto police identified the two men killed as 25-year-old Shaquan Quashie and 20-year-old Cesar Vernaza. Both suspects are facing two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Downey also faces charges of unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm and two counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking. Massaro-Gill faces six counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possession of an unauthorized firearm. Police said both men were found in possession of firearms, narcotics, and Canadian currency at the time of arrest. None of the charges have been tested in court. Massaro-Gill is due to appear in court Tuesday.