Handgun seized in Project Red Zone bust linked to Mississauga homicide: Cops
· Toronto Sun
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Visit saltysenoritaaz.org for more information.
This American-made handgun was more than 10 years old before it was traced to a local homicide.
“(The gun) originated in Texas, and it was approximately 4,000 days from the time of purchase to the time of the crime,” Det. Mike Mavity of the Peel Regional Police Homicide Bureau said on Tuesday morning in Mississauga.
The alleged crime occurred back in March 2024, when Peel Police responded to shots fired in the area of The Queensway E. and Dixie Rd. in Mississauga.
“Unfortunately, one of those males, a 38-year-old, Alastair Robinson, succumbed to his injuries,” Mavity said.
Robinson died at the scene. An 18-year-old male was also shot. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The weapon used in the Robinson homicide was a Glock 23 Gen 4 semi-automatic handgun with an overcapacity magazine. The weapon was one of 23 guns seized as part of Project Red Zone. This gun was released to the public in the spring of 2010. The serial number is WYE 819.
“Through the investigation by the homicide bureau, we identified two people (allegedly) responsible,” Mavity said. “Akeem Richards was charged with the first-degree murder, and attempted murder. Sean Downey-Smith was also charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.”
Red Zone
Red Zone was a 10-month undercover operation that seized a total of 23 firearms, 824.75 grams of cocaine, and more than 950 rounds of ammunition. The operation began last October and concluded in July of this year with the arrest of three males and one female.
The investigation also determined that 15 of the seized guns originated in the United States. Several of the firearms recovered are prohibited in Canada.
Glocks are manufactured in Austria and at the U.S., plant in Smyrna, Ga.
Peel police have no idea if the gun was involved in the commission of a crime in the U.S., but the police believe the gun crossed the border in the back of a truck or through Pearson airport.
“The trucking industry is one of our major concerns at the border, as well at Pearson airport,” Peel Regional Police Det. Michael Bishop said.
But what they do know is through ballistic matching, they were able to link the gun in question to the shooting more than two years back.
“Projectiles and casings from the homicide scene (were) matched to the test firing of the gun after we seized it,” Det. Sgt. Mark Mazzocato told the Toronto Sun.
According to one U.S.-based website, a unused Glock of this model sells for about $650 US in the secondary market, and a used model sells for about $350. The overcapacity magazine is approximately $50 US. The gun weighs 605 grams without a magazine.