An 18-year-old man with alleged ties to a “gun-for-hire” network that is suspected to be behind several shooting incidents across the Greater Toronto Area has been charged in two attempted bank robberies in Niagara Region earlier this year. Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) announced on Tuesday that they had arrested 18-year-old Jayon Burgher, 22-year-old Brandon Brown, and an unnamed 17-year-old boy for the attempted robberies in Wainfleet on March 4 and in Pelham on March 11. In both incidents, police said three males wearing clothing that concealed their identity tried to access the banks but were unsuccessful due to security measures in place. One suspect was seen brandishing a gun in the Wainfleet attempted robbery. NRPS said the two incidents were initially investigated separately and were later determined to be related. Burgher and Brown are each facing the charge of attempting to commit the indictable offence of robbery. The 18-year-old is also charged with disguise with intent. The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. NRPS said the two attempted robberies have also been linked to an attempted home invasion in Thorold in January. They added that investigators also uncovered a plan for a fourth robbery. Burgher involved in other March incidents NRPS confirmed to CP24 that Burgher is also facing numerous charges in Toronto and Halton Region in connection with two other incidents in March. On March 26, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) alleged Burgher was one of the two suspects who fired shots at a business in the area of Islington Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West, causing damage. No injuries were reported. The suspects fled the area. TPS said the business was shot by mistake, as the neighbouring establishment was the intended target. Three days later, on March 29, Halton Regional Police were called to a residence near Lakeshore Road and Fourth Line in Oakville for a shooting. One person sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result, police said. A month later, Halton police announced that they arrested Burgher and charged him with firearm-related offences as well as mischief to property over $5,000. In June, TPS revealed that they had charged Burgher in the March 26 incident. TPS said the incident has been linked to more than two dozen firearm discharges across the GTA, including the March 10 shooting at the Toronto U.S. consulate. Investigators were able to link the incidents after they recovered two guns from the execution of multiple search warrants in Toronto on June 11. Police said the guns were likely shared by multiple different shooters. TPS Chief Myron Demkiw said young people, through encrypted messaging apps, are being hired to shoot at various targets, including synagogues and Jewish schools, and investigators are trying to determine who is paying for them. TPS noted that they believe there is more than one “gun-for-hire” network that is trying to recruit members and that the scope goes beyond the city. NRPS has not said whether the gun-for-hire networks were behind the attempted bank robberies. “I am not aware of any connection between our attempted bank robberies and Toronto’s investigation,” said NRPS Const. Jessica Martin in an email to CP24. With files from CP24’s Codi Wilson and Joshua Freeman
