A fourth teenage girl charged in the fatal stabbing of a homeless man in Toronto two years ago, pleaded guilty Wednesday. The girl, who was 14 years old at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. 59-year-old Kenneth Lee.
Police have claimed that Lee, who was living in the city’s shelter system, died after being stabbed by a group of eight teenage girls in December 2022. At the time, police called the attack a “swarm.”
Eight girls, all between the ages of 13 and 16, were arrested in the hours that followed.
The girls were charged with second-degree murder and a judge recently ordered six of them to stand trial on that charge, while the other two will be tried on the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Three girls have previously pleaded guilty in the case: two to manslaughter and one to assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.
All girls who have pleaded guilty will appear in court in the coming months for sentencing.
A hearing is scheduled next week for those appearing in court.
Toronto Police Service
Police have said they believe the teens came together after meeting on social media and came from homes in the Greater Toronto Area. They said three had previous interactions with police, while five others did not. Canadian authorities cannot identify them because they are minors.
After the attack, Detective Sgt. Terry Browne of the Toronto Police Service Homicide Squad said authorities believe the girls tried to take a bottle of alcohol from the man.
“I’ve been in law enforcement for almost 35 years and you think you’ve seen it all,” Browne said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Anyone who isn’t shocked to hear something like this has clearly thrown in the towel and said anything is possible in this world. Eight young girls and most of them under the age of 16. If this isn’t alarming and shocking to everyone, then frankly we’re all in trouble.”
According to Toronto Police statistics, the city reported 71 homicides in 2022, including 17 stabbing deaths. Last year, the city reported 73 homicides, including 24 stabbing deaths.
