New details emerge from the swarming murder trial

Plus, keeping kids cool and a suspected murder-suicide in North York [The Star] First Up [By Andy Takagi] By Andy Takagi Good morning. Here’s the latest on a shooting in North York, a pilot project to help cool kids during the heatwave and new details from the swarming murder trial. DON’T MISS Steve Russell/The Star crime [Three adults are dead after a shooting in a North York office]( Anxious parents waited behind police tape outside two Don Mills daycare centres after a shooting at an office complex in the same building. Children were reunited with the parents after an hour in lock-down, while police began investigating a murder-suicide after two men and a woman — including a person thought to be the shooter — were found dead inside. Another office worker had called the police after shots rang out in the reception area of the building near Don Mills and York Mills roads at 3:30 p.m. Police haven’t released any details about the victims as they are still notifying families. [Here’s how the shooting unfolded](. - More: One daycare worker described the “tunnel vision” she experienced as she guided the children out after spending more than an hour in a dark corner of the daycare. “My main job is just to protect the health and safety of the kids and that’s what came first,” supervisor Sarah Ashfield said. - By the numbers: Toronto has seen a sharp drop in gun violence rates, which police data shows are down 40 per cent over the past five years. [However, stabbings, assaults and auto thefts have been on the rise](. Nick Lachance/The Star climate crisis [New misting stations in Toronto Catholic schools offer relief as the temperatures soar]( When decades-old public school infrastructure meets a heat wave, what do you get? A pilot project for Toronto Catholic schools that will see students misted and shaded to ward off the oppressive heat, Isabel Teotonio reports. Installed about three weeks ago at a dozen schools, at a total cost of $48,000, the new misting stations will soon face their first real test of the summer. “At the end of the day, it’s all about learning,” one principal said. “When (students) are too hot or overheated, you can see that they are lethargic, unable to focus.” [Take a look at how the pilot project is being rolled out](. - Go deeper: What’s causing all this heat? We’re trapped in a heat dome — stagnant air high up in the atmosphere — [and it’s not even set to be the hottest week of the year](. - Cool down! Heat exhaustion and heat stroke is no joke. Be on the lookout for the signs and [follow the Star’s guide on how to handle the heat](. - Silver lining: The city has opened up several pools across the city to help Torontonains make it through the sweltering heat — [here’s where to find them](. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star courts [The girls on trial for a swarming death made videos “memorializing” the bloody, brutal attack]( The eight teenage girls who are alleged to have swarmed and killed Kenneth Lee, 59, in December 2022 filmed their attack, a courtroom heard on Monday. The group shared bottles of Crown Royale, Sour Puss and Bacardi, as well as five marijuana blunts, before attacking Lee in “waves,” according to a statement of fact reported on by Jennifer Pagliaro. While two girls have pleaded guilty to charges related to the case, none have admitted to stabbing Lee. [Here’s what is next for the murder case that has gripped the city](. - Context: [Lee was known as a kind man, who had jostled between shelters](. He had not had permanent housing for some time, according to shelter staff, but he was quick to check in on staff and other shelter residents. - The aftermath: The girls, aged 13 to 16, were each charged with second-degree murder for Lee’s death. Two have been committed to stand trial for second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. [As the case makes its way through the courts, more details of the attack are emerging](. WHAT ELSE Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved his War Cabinet. [How will that affect ceasefire efforts]( The Liberals and Conservatives are fighting over the CBC’s NHL playoffs coverage. [Here’s what’s actually going on](. A judge has postponed Peter Nygard’s sentencing, [but vowed no more delays “unless he’s in a coma.”]( [Durham police made 92 arrests and seized $600K in drugs]( in their “Project Martini” human trafficking bust. “An extreme crime, with an extremist motive.” [Three men planned to massacre a family at Mississauga’s Chicken Land restaurant, the Crown argued](. “I’ll remember him with his heart, his love and his smile.” [A community is mourning after a daylight shooting that left a teen dead](. He was randomly targeted in a Toronto shooting. [Four months later, his family is struggling to get here to bury him](. An MP suffered a concussion — [and learned firsthand how little is known about the ways head injuries affect women](. Now’s the time for the Maple Leafs to swing for the fences. [Toronto teams have a history of trading their way to the top](. The Titan submersible imploded a year ago. [Here’s why explorers still want to go back to the Titanic](. Summer culture preview: [Our 60+ picks for the movies, music, books, TV and more to get excited about](. Could France’s politics [overshadow the Olympic Games?]( POV Nick Lachance/The Star [Toronto is topping the charts in the U.S., but it’s not something we should be proud of.]( CLOSE-UP Adam Glanzman/Getty Images BOSTON: A 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks has cemented the Boston Celtics as the 2024 NBA Champions. On a heater through the regular season and playoffs, [superstar duo Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum bring the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy back to Boston](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_215288). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](