Criminal lawyer weighs in on Toronto teen acquitted after self-defence shooting with illegal gun
The Iraqi man, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, described the Scarborough neighbourhood in which he grew up as unsafe, 'like Iraq.'
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Tonight: Can you use an illegal gun to kill someone in self-defence? Just wait until you hear this story out of Toronto.
Even the Toronto Star didn't know quite what to make of it in their article published last week. Who was the good guy and who was the bad guy?
Here, take a look:
A Toronto jury on Friday acquitted a 20-year-old man of second-degree murder, accepting his claim that he fired four shots in self-defence, believing the victim — 18-year-old Jefferson Guerrier — was "lunging" at him with a knife outside a high school in the city’s east end.
Just another usual day in the failed state of Toronto.
The fatal shooting, just as classes were ending for the day on Halloween in 2022, drew widespread attention to the proximity to students, one of whom filmed the incident on their cell phone.
The man was 17 at the time. His identity is covered by a standard publication ban.
He was packing an illegal gun, and he used it to shoot someone he was afraid of, and he was acquitted.
Joining the show tonight to talk about it is Ian Runkle, criminal lawyer and host of popular YouTube channel Runkle of the Bailey.
GUEST: A longform interview with Ian Runkle, Canadian criminal lawyer and YouTuber, on the recent case of a Toronto jury acquitting a teen who used an illegal firearm in a fatal self-defence shooting.
COMMENTS
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Sherri Drouillard followed this page 2025-07-13 10:36:35 -0400 -
Barry Swain followed this page 2025-07-11 12:39:37 -0400
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Sandra Predinchuk commented 2025-07-11 11:18:24 -0400What and how did this kid get an illegal fire arm? That should have been the first question asked! His defence was weak. Our judicial System judges, lawyers are NOT doing our citizens any justice by letting anyone free for using an illegal gun and shooting someone ( KILLING) that person dead, out of free. That called fof a life in prison no matter what that kids excuse wasPERIOD. MURDER IS MURDER. THAT WAS NOT SELF DEFENCE . HE WAS CARYING AN ILLEGALLY HIDDEN GUN FOR THE INTENT TO DO HARM TO SOMEONE,and he was ready to use the I’m scared this country reminds me of where I came from bull crap.
If this country reminds them of where they came from , it’s because THEY MADE CANADA THAT WAY. NOT US CANADIANS! KEEP SPUING YOUR FROM SEA TO SEA B.D. IN OUR STREETS, AND DOING YOUR PROTESTING, AND PUPLIC PRAYERS IN THE STREETS OF QUEBEC AND COVERING YOUR FACES AND SPREADING YOUR SPECIAL HATE HERD IN CSNADS I IN MY HUMBLD OPENION THINK OUR POLICE SHOULD START ROUNDING YOU ALL UP , STOP PROTECTING YOU AND ARESTING OUR RRPORTERS THAT WANT TO SHOW THE REAL STORIES OF WHATS GOING ON. AND SEND YOU ALL BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM SO WE CAN HAVE PEACE BACK IN OUR COUNTRY. AND WE NEED TO GET RID OF ALL THESE LIBERAL JUDGES AND GET THESE KIDS USING DRUGS, AND ILLEGALLY GOTEN GUNS OFF OUR STREETS, and if they are illegally living in our country, deport them immediately or put them in JAIL for a very long time so we Canadians who live, and LOVE OUR COUNTRY AND DONT BREAK OUR LAWS CAND FINALLY LIVE OUR LIVES IN PEACE -
Richard Selch commented 2025-07-11 11:04:53 -0400The legal system is out of control.
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Robert Pariseau commented 2025-07-11 06:49:57 -0400Criminal miscreants are votes.
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Jerrold Lundgard commented 2025-07-11 05:57:38 -0400The victim of a violent miscreant is the first responder. The victim decides whether to be submissive and surrender or to defend life and property.
A victim who defends their life or property should NOT FACE ANY Criminal charge.
Canadian gun laws are a farce and do absolutely nothing to prevent criminal miscreants from doing harm.
In a self defense situation your life is at stake. PROVE ME WRONG. -
Robert Pariseau commented 2025-07-10 20:42:19 -0400Your new Canada, ladies and gentlemen.
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Michael Guillery commented 2025-07-10 20:40:06 -0400Wondering if crown prosecutors, rather than being appointed, should be elected to the post they seek. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2025-07-10 20:33:02 -0400I believe privilege is involved. Our government favours non whites who came here from Islamic countries. So this young man who justifiably shot an attacker got off easier than a white citizen would.
