Content warning: This article discusses and describes violence and murder. 

On March 20 at 8:21 am, the Toronto Police Services (TPS) received a call for a person found dead near the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building. 

TPS and Campus Safety were dispatched to the building, which has been partially blocked off at the Queen’s Park entrance.

According to TPS spokesperson Ashley Visser, the death was initially deemed non-suspicious. 

At 2:38 pm the same day, the Toronto Police Operations Centre posted on X to confirm that TPS was on-site and the Homicide Unit began investigating. 

On March 21 at 1:00 pm, TPS Detective Sergeant Trevor Grieve from the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit gave an update at Toronto Police Headquarters. 

Officers had arrived on scene where the victim was lying on the ground with visible injuries. They began lifesaving measures, but the victim was pronounced deceased on scene. 

The victim has been identified as Mario Ferreira, 60. Grieve added that it is believed he is an “unhoused individual” from Toronto and is not part of the U of T community. 

In video footage obtained by officers, the victim was seen lying on a bench in front of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building at 5:20 am. The suspect picked up “debris” and assaulted the victim with it “repeatedly and violently.” The suspect then fled the area on foot, with the debris in hand.

The assault is believed to be unprovoked. 

The suspect is described as a man, medium to large build, approximately 200 pounds, with a black beard and black hair in short dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a beige camouflage short sleeve shirt, black pants, black shoes, and a black and blue backpack. 

TPS has released images of the suspect, and he should be considered armed and dangerous. 

“I think it’s very alarming,” said Grieve. “That’s why I’ve asked to come before you all today as quickly as I can to get the message out on who the suspect is, so that we can try and locate him and get him into custody as quickly as possible.”

U of T response and notices

In a statement to The Varsity, a U of T spokesperson noted the university is “providing supports to affected individuals.”

“We encourage students, faculty members, librarians and staff needing further supports to take advantage of the robust services, tools and resources that are listed on UTogether,” they added. “These include same- and next-day mental health appointments at our student health and wellness centres (UTSG, UTM, UTSC), TELUS Health Student Support and the Employee & Family Assistance Program.”

In a U of T alert emailed to students at 2:36 pm, they added that “Students, staff, faculty and librarians are reminded of the various safety programs offered on campus” including Community Safety Office, TravelSafer, Virtual TravelSafer and Mobile Bluelight, and signing up U of T’s new alert system, UTAlert. 

Students who signed up for UTAlert also received a text at 3:02 pm, stating “Assistance needed in TPS Homicide Investigation.” The text referred students to the TPS news release.

At 4:40 pm, another U of T alert stated that TPS has the suspect in custody.

A TPS news release wrote that the man was arrested and charged with first degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 22.