Toronto police say two people found dead inside burning vehicles located in Scarborough and Etobicoke earlier this week were the victims of homicide. The first incident, police said, occurred just before 11:25 p.m. on Sept. 21 on Reesor Road, between Steeles Avenue and Old Finch Road, in Scarborough. Police said a vehicle fire was reported and first-responders later located a body inside the vehicle. About an hour and a half later, another vehicle fire was reported at James Garden Park on Edenbridge Drive in Etobicoke, near Royal York Road and Dundas Street. A body was also found in that vehicle. Speaking during a news conference on Friday afternoon, Det.-Sgt. Henri Marsman said autopsies confirmed that both men sustained fatal gunshot wounds prior to the fires. The Scarborough victim has now been identified as 32-year-old Marcus Charles. Marsman said Friday that Charles, a Scarborough resident, was identified through fingerprints. The second victim has not yet been identified. No suspect information has been released in either case. Marsman said Charles’ body was found inside a rental vehicle and the vehicle in the second homicide was stolen from somewhere in the GTA. He said investigators believe Charles was killed within a 24-hour period prior to the fire. The homicide detective said it is too early to tell if the vehicle fires are connected. “On its face… there is a lot of commonalities, but I have to rely on solid evidence to make that determination and we are not at that stage yet," he said. “We are actively doing a video canvas so members of the public can expect us in the area.” Marsman said investigators believe that both victims were targeted and there is no ongoing threat to the public. This is a breaking news story. More details to come.
