Dillon Whitehawk found guilty in 2019 death of Keenan Toto, sentenced to life in prison

After weeks of testimony, a verdict has been reached in the Dillon Whitehawk double murder trial. Mick Favel reports.

Dillon Ricky Whitehawk has been found guilty of first-degree murder in one of two 2019 drive by shootings.

He has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Whitehawk was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Keenan Toto and not guilty in the case of Jordan Denton.

A 12-person jury handed down the verdict Thursday afternoon following approximately 15 hours of deliberations, which began at noon on Wednesday.

Whitehawk responded little to the reading of the verdict.

Sentencing proceedings began at 4:30 p.m.

• Deliberations begin in Whitehawk double murder trial

On Nov. 9, 2019, a car filled with Indian Mafia (I.M.) street gang members approached Jordan Denton and a friend on the 800 block of Robinson Street.

The two men tried to flee but Denton was shot in the back. He died soon after.

Later on Dec. 1, 2019, a car carrying four I.M. members approached Keenan Toto and a friend on the 1800 block of Queen Street.

After a brief confrontation, Toto was shot. The vehicle then sped away. Toto died at the scene.

Over 25 witnesses took the stand over the weeks long trial. Testimony included firsthand accounts placing Whitehawk at the scene of the shootings and claims the shootings were in relation to a gang war that occurred in the city in late 2019.

Other witnesses included members of the Regina Police Service and three experts who helped piece together the sequence of events that led to the shootings.

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Before sentencing, two victim impact statements were read in court. One was from Toto’s mother who said her life changed the morning she learned her son was killed. Her heartache and lonesomeness will never go away, she wrote.

A statement from Denton’s parter was also read. His absence has been greatly felt, especially with his children. Two of Denton’s children have had to attend counseling because of the loss.

In Canada, a first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

This is the second time Whitehawk has been on trial for these charges. In 2022, he was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Toto and Denton. An appeal by Whitehawk for a new trial was successful in 2025.

“We always knew after a new trial was ordered we would have significant challenges associated with mounting a case of this nature,” said Adam Breker, the Crown prosecutor in the trial.

Defense lawyer Thomas Hynes said he is still digesting the jury’s decision.

“Given the mixed result, it’s difficult to say exactly how we feel about the outcome,” his statement read, noting that one of the difficult components of the case was that Whitehawk chose not to testify.

Whitehawk is already serving a life sentence for second-degree murder for his role in the death of Keesha Bitternose.