A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the random fatal attack that took the life of 60-year-old Mario Ferreira, an unhoused man, on the University of Toronto campus this past Thursday morning.
The incident, described by police as unprovoked, occurred around 5:20 a.m. on March 20, 2025, as Ferreira was lying on a bench located near College Street and Queen’s Park Crescent. According to surveillance footage reviewed by investigators, Adimabua Chukwuka, 31, of Toronto, allegedly armed himself with some kind of debris before approaching Ferreira.
“Without any warning or provocation, the suspect approaches Mr. Ferreira... and uses that debris to assault him repeatedly and violently,” Det.-Sgt. Trevor Grieve of the Toronto Police Service stated during a press conference. The suspect then fled the scene on foot, still in possession of the debris used to carry out the assault.
Hours later, at around 8:30 a.m., campus security personnel were alerted to a man who had been found near the Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building, unconscious and not breathing. Despite emergency personnel performing life-saving measures, Ferreira was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that Ferreira died from blunt force trauma to his upper body, as indicated by Grieve. The homicide marks the fifth such incident in Toronto this year, highlighting growing concerns about violence against the city's vulnerable populations.
After canvassing the area and following up on tips from the public, police announced the arrest of Chukwuka on March 21, 2025. He has been charged with first-degree murder and is set to appear in court on March 22, 2025.
Chukwuka is reportedly known to police, with a troubling background including previous incidents of violence. He had been charged with attempted murder and robbery in April 2014 and was involved in a stabbing incident in North York in April 2022.
“I do not see any sort of altercation that occurs between the victim and the suspect, and I am treating this as a completely random incident,” Grieve reiterated, describing how disturbing these occurrences are to the community at large.
As the investigation continues, police are appealing to the public for any additional information or video footage pertaining to the incident that may assist them further. The community’s safety and the need for justice for Ferreira are at the forefront of their efforts. “We are committed to bringing justice to Mr. Ferreira,” Grieve emphasized.
The tragic end of Mario Ferreira's life on the streets of Toronto serves as a grievous reminder about the vulnerability of unhoused individuals in urban settings, and the random acts of violence that can occur without warning. Community members are encouraged to look out for one another and assist authorities in ensuring the safety of their neighborhoods.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact the Toronto Police Homicide Unit at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) to report anonymously.
