TORONTO — On June 17 at approximately 11 p.m., Toronto Police responded to reports of a stabbing behind a plaza at Danforth Avenue and Coxwell Avenue. There, they discovered 36‑year‑old Ashkan Pournasir‑Roudbane suffering from fatal stab wounds. He was rushed to hospital, but died shortly after arrival. Police have classified it as Toronto’s 16th homicide of 2025 and established the attack was targeted.
By June 19, police released the image of a suspect wearing dark clothing and fleeing the scene. On June 22, Anthony Steven Oliveira, 24, was arrested and charged with first‑degree murder. Authorities say a second suspect remains at large.
A Focused Attack, A Community on Edge
The stabbing didn’t occur in a neglected alley—it happened behind a busy strip plaza servicing residents, shoppers, and businesses.
Detection Sgt. Henri Marsman told media that “an altercation occurred between two males behind a plaza”—a stark reflection of how violence can erupt in places people assume are routine and safe.
What This Signals for Public Safety
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Targeted, Not Random: This was no drive-by or gang-style shootout—a personal, focused attack in public spots.
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Transit Threats: With one suspect known to ride transit through the GTA, authorities stress vigilance on buses and streetcars.
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Witness Inside Gathering Places: Stories like this often rely on overlooked bystanders—store staff, late-night shoppers, transit riders—who now are being asked to come forward.
What Needs to Be Done
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Improve Lighting & Surveillance behind plazas, transit stops, and late-night businesses.
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Transit Alerts & Covers: Transit agencies should alert operators and commuters when violent offenders are at large.
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Community Watch Coordination: Plaza merchants, TTC staff, and community groups should hold rapid-response safety meetings after incidents.
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Citizen Reporting Apps: Equip residents to share video or voice tips anonymously on the spot—without needing to wait for a 911 call.
Closing the Gap Between Routine & Risk
When violence strikes in everyday places—behind plaza shops, near transit stops, after a night out—it collapses our sense of normalcy. People ask: “Is it really safe to go get my coffee at night?”
Toronto’s public safety isn’t built just by responding to crises—it’s built by preventing them through better lighting, smarter surveillance, and engaged communities.
Because when a targeted stabbing happens behind a corner store, it shows us that even life’s routines may no longer be safe—and the places we trust are the ones that must evolve first.
🛡️ “Watch the Block” is GTA Weekly’s weekly editorial series on community safety. Stay informed — safer streets start with informed communities. Follow us @GTAWeeklyNews for more stories that matter. #GTAWeekly #GTAToday #WatchTheBlock
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