Man charged with 1st-degree murder for Salsa on St. Clair shooting appears in Toronto court

One of the two 18-year-old men arrested in relation to the deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival last month appeared in a Toronto court Thursday. 

Toronto police arrested Jessiah Massaro-Gill, 18, and Lewis Downey, 18, on Aug. 5, weeks after the shooting that left two people dead. The men are both facing two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder in relation to the Salsa on St. Clair shooting. Both were found to be in possession of firearms, narcotics and Canadian currency, police said.

On Thursday, Downey appeared in court via video link from the Toronto South Detention Centre. His defense team stated that they were hired Wednesday and have asked for a three-week adjournment to receive disclosure from the Crown.

On July 11, gunfire erupted during the festival near St. Clair Avenue W. and Arlington Avenue. Two men, whom Toronto police have identified as 25-year-old Shaquan Quashie and 20-year-old Cesar Vernaza, were killed and five others were injured in the shooting. 

Along with first-degree murder and attempted murder, Downey is facing several other charges, including unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm and two counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking. 

Massaro-Gill's other charges include six counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possession of an unauthorized firearm.

None of the charges have been tested in court.

On Sept. 10, Downey’s court procedures are set to resume if his defense team receives the disclosure. Co-accused Massaro-Gill is due to appear in court Tuesday .