‘My brother’s bleeding in the driveway’: Three dead in Toronto crossbow murder
Posted August 26, 2016 1:36 pm.
Last Updated August 26, 2016 1:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO (NEWS 1130) – A man who survived an apparent crossbow attack in Scarborough ran to his neighbour’s home moments after the incident.
“It wasn’t a knock. The guy was hammering on the door,” a neighbour said on Friday.
“I opened the door and he practically fell into my arms. He practically knocked me over. He staggered into the front room and fell on the floor. He said, ‘Call 911. My brother’s bleeding in the driveway. Make sure the police come, make sure the police come.’ He emphasized the police. He passed out for a couple of minutes and then he came to again.”
The neighbour said he went over to the driveway, but there was nothing he could do. The victim, he said, was bleeding too badly. He didn’t want to touch him, for fear of hurting him further.
The neighbour said his wife had plans with one of the victims. They were supposed to go to the Canadian National Exhibition on Thursday but had made plans to go shopping Friday instead.
“That’s never going to happen,” he said.
Court records have identified the three people killed in Thursday’s attack as Susan, Alexander and Christopher Ryan. The documents do not specify the relationship between the three victims and the accused. But neighbours say they believe the victims were the mother and brothers of the accused.
Property records show the bungalow where the incident happened is listed in the name of Susan Ryan. She previously co-owned the home with William Ryan, who records show died last year.
It appears the three people were stabbed – not shot – with a crossbow bolt. One body was found in the driveway and two more were found in the rear of the property.
The home, on Argo Road, near Eglinton Avenue East and Markham Road, was still covered in police tape nearly 24 hours later.
Brett Ryan, 35, of Toronto, appeared in court on Friday. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Ryan will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Sept. 2.
In 2008, Ryan was charged in relation to a string of bank robberies according to Toronto Police.
At the time, Ryan was dubbed the “fake beard bandit” for the disguise he allegedly used, police said. He was charged with 14 counts of robbery, 14 counts of wearing a disguise and three counts of possessing dangerous weapons. It’s unclear what happened to those charges.
