January 10, 2023
TORONTO, CANADA—Authorities have identified the homeless man killed in an alleged “swarming” attack by eight teenage girls in Toronto last month.
Ken Lee, 59, was pronounced dead in the hospital after he was allegedly beaten and stabbed by a group of “teen” girls outside a downtown shelter in the early morning hours of December 18, 2022, according to CBC.
All eight girls, who range in age from 13 to 16 years old, were charged with second-degree murder. One was granted bail in late December, while the rest are scheduled for bail hearings later this month.
The identities of the girls are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Street Pastor Doug Johnson Hatlem said Lee immigrated from Hong Kong and was working to find housing.
He knew Lee and explained that Lee was defending a friend when the group of teens attacked him, reports CBC.
“Nobody was surprised that he would stick up for somebody like that,” Johnson Hatlem said.
A witness to the attack told CBC Toronto that the girls tried to take a liquor bottle from Lee’s female friend and he tried to stop them and that’s when the attack happened.
The lead detective confirmed later the attempted theft is what caused the incident.
The attack happened around 12:15 a.m. near the corner of York Street and University Avenue.
Det.-Sgt. Terry Browne stated back in December that authorities are choosing to charge each of the teens with second-degree murder because each girl “played a role” in Lee’s death.
“All eight were together. All eight were involved,” he stated. “I won’t say what each one individually did, but all eight were together and participating in this event, which is disturbing.”
Feature Image via Toronto Police Service Handout