Latest news with #NoahAnderson
Toronto Sun
09-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
MANDEL: Killers sentenced to life for senseless 'execution' of beloved youth worker
Junior Jahmal Harvey, 23, was sentenced to an automatic life term with no possibility of parole for 25 years in the slaying of youth worker Thane Murray. Co-accused Noah Anderson, 24, not pictured, received the same sentence. The judge called it the murder trial's 'elephant in the room.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Why in the world did Noah Anderson, 24, Junior Jahmal Harvey, 23, and their two accomplices unleash 59 shots at strangers just enjoying a smoke in Regent Park? As the men ran for their lives, why did they pump 14 bullets into Thane Murray, the beloved 27-year-old city youth worker, even as he lay dying? Why did they shoot Allen Uthayakumaran nine times, leaving him in a coma for three weeks, or nail Tony Nguyen in the foot as he managed to escape? Was it all because of a beef over rival neighbourhoods? Or even more senseless, to provide the gleeful lyrics for their rap song where they boasted of sending their victim 'straight to Jesus?' Has life really become this cheap in our city? Thane Murray, 27, a Regent Park youth worker, was viciously murdered in 2021. Photo by TORONTO POLICE In a packed downtown courtroom Tuesday, Superior Court Justice Gillian Roberts sentenced Anderson and Harvey to automatic life terms with no possibility of parole for 25 years for murder and two concurrent life sentences for the attempted murders in what she called a 'new high-water mark of harm' with their attack on an entire community. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The young killers appeared to smirk and swivel in their chairs with boredom as Roberts recounted the pain they've caused with Murray's senseless execution. 'There is no evidence that any of the accused knew any of the victims. Nor is there any evidence that anyone would have a motive to hurt, let alone kill, any of the victims,' she said. 'The elephant in the room throughout this trial was why did this happen? Mr. Anderson and Mr. Harvey and the other two shooters are the only ones that can provide real insight into that question. All I can say is that I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Anderson and Mr. Harvey, together with Rajahden Angus Campbell, wrote Peppered about the shooting and it demonstrates deep animus toward the neighbourhood of Regent Park.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More It was Sept. 18, 2021 — a Saturday night — and Murray was with his two childhood friends, planning their next day's basketball game while hanging out at the edge of the parking lot in the area of Regent Park known as the 'swimming pool.' They had no idea their neighbourhood had been targeted in a carefully planned ambush by four shooters from the MG4L (Menace Gang For Life), a rap collective associated with Alexandra Park and with a hate-on for Regent Park. Their organizer appeared to be the unlikely Anderson, a high-achieving entrepreneur and York University child education student obviously attracted to the gangster side of life. He scouted the shooting target area, rented the getaway car and booked a nearby hotel room to be their 'staging ground.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. After the four shooters changed the car's licence plates as well as their clothes, they parked close to Regent Park and walked in with guns blazing. Of the two remaining masked suspects, Jabreel Elmi, 30, is awaiting trial after his arrest in Saskatoon earlier this year while Angus Campbell, 22, remains at large. 'The violence involved in the shooting was extreme,' Roberts said. 'The victims were completely innocent; guilty of nothing more than sitting, chatting, enjoying a warm late-summer evening with old friends in their neighbourhood.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO Just 10 days after the murder, Anderson and Harvey were in a recording studio working on their rap song boasting about taking a stranger's life, claiming responsibility as the 'RP (Regent Park) killas.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Your block is getting peppered / MG4L man,' the song says. ' Left him DOA / Flip 'n flopping like a seizure … sent that boy straight to Jesus.' What a beacon of light they chose to extinguish. Murray's mom Dawn was so overcome with anguish that she could barely get out the words of her victim impact statement. 'It feels like they ripped my son out of my stomach. Even though I look fine on the outside I am dying on the inside.' The common theme in the 16 statements was that the youth mentor was a much-loved force for good, 'Mr. Murray was such an integral part of so many of the programs being run at the Regent Park community centre that they had to be shut down immediately after his death,' the judge noted. 'Worse, the community lost a shining star, a success story. This not only undermined the community's sense of safety, but it struck at its ability to hope.' And why? Has life become so cheap in this city? It seems it has. mmandel@ Toronto Blue Jays Canada Canada Sunshine Girls Canada
CBC
08-07-2025
- CBC
2 men given life sentences for shooting that killed Regent Park youth worker
Two men were sentenced Tuesday to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a Regent Park youth worker. A jury convicted Noah Anderson and Junior Jahmal Harvey, both 23, in April, nearly four years after 27-year-old Thane Murray was gunned down in a Toronto parking lot while sitting and chatting with friends. Ontario Superior Court Justice Gillian Roberts sentenced Anderson and Harvey to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years, as is required by law for a first-degree murder conviction. Both men have also been given two life sentences for the attempted murder of Allen Uthayakumaran and Tony Nguyen, the friends Murray was with that night. The Crown had asked for concurrent life sentences, while defence lawyers had asked for concurrent sentences in the range of 12 to 15 years, noting their lack of previous criminal records. 'Very high degree of planning,' judge rules On Sept. 18, 2021, Murray and his childhood friends Uthayakumaran and Nguyen were chatting in a parking lot area in Regent Park. "The victims were completely innocent; guilty of nothing more than sitting, chatting, enjoying a warm late-summer evening," Roberts said in her decision. Uthayakumaran was shot nine times, while Nguyen was shot only once, which the judge said was "not through lack of effort on the part of the shooters." "Mr. Nguyen was simply the first to notice the shooters and run," she said. Murray was shot 14 times and died at the scene. "He was executed," Roberts said. Meanwhile, Uthayakumaran was in a coma for three months. "There are a number of very significant aggravating circumstances," Roberts noted in her decision. She said the violence was "extreme" and "involved a very high degree of planning and deliberation." Roberts described the shooting as "senseless," saying there was no evidence that Anderson or Harvey knew any of the victims. Murray was beloved by the community and by his family, the judge noted. His mother, father, brother, grandmother, sister and aunt, as well as friends, community members and teachers provided victim impact statements in court, describing their loss. His mother, in particular, said she still can't bring herself to look at his picture.
The Advertiser
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Suns rise over Bombers to keep finals dreams on track
Gold Coast are a step closer to realising their dream of playing AFL finals for the first time after seeing off a young Essendon outfit by 41 points. The Suns had their noses in front at every change before putting their foot to the floor in a dominant final quarter, winning 18.7 (115) to 11.8 (74) at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. Defender Joel Jeffrey was outstanding for the Suns, finishing with a career-high 32 disposals, while skipper Noah Anderson (30 disposals and two goals) and John Noble (29 disposals) continued their excellent form. Gold Coast's talls proved a handful for the Bomber defence all day, with emerging forward Ethan Read kicking a career-best three goals in the first half and Ben King finishing with four of his the other end of the ground, Essendon's young key forwards Nate Caddy and Archer May each kicked three goals, including a pair of stellar long bombs from outside 50, in what could be a key pairing for years to come. But while Essendon were able to match the Suns' intensity for the first three quarters, they fell away badly in the final term, as the Suns piled on six goals to none in a dominant finish. Tough nut Matt Rowell was kept quiet in his 100th game, registering 15 disposals (including just five in the first half) as defensive midfielder Will Setterfield paid him close attention around stoppages. Their victory ensures Gold Coast will finish the round in the top eight, with a game in hand. The Suns and Bombers meet again later this year to play the Opening Round match that was postponed because of flooding in Bombers will be hoping to bounce back against Richmond at the MCG next Saturday night. Gold Coast will host ladder-leading Collingwood in a sold-out prime-time clash at People First Stadium on Friday night. Gold Coast are a step closer to realising their dream of playing AFL finals for the first time after seeing off a young Essendon outfit by 41 points. The Suns had their noses in front at every change before putting their foot to the floor in a dominant final quarter, winning 18.7 (115) to 11.8 (74) at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. Defender Joel Jeffrey was outstanding for the Suns, finishing with a career-high 32 disposals, while skipper Noah Anderson (30 disposals and two goals) and John Noble (29 disposals) continued their excellent form. Gold Coast's talls proved a handful for the Bomber defence all day, with emerging forward Ethan Read kicking a career-best three goals in the first half and Ben King finishing with four of his the other end of the ground, Essendon's young key forwards Nate Caddy and Archer May each kicked three goals, including a pair of stellar long bombs from outside 50, in what could be a key pairing for years to come. But while Essendon were able to match the Suns' intensity for the first three quarters, they fell away badly in the final term, as the Suns piled on six goals to none in a dominant finish. Tough nut Matt Rowell was kept quiet in his 100th game, registering 15 disposals (including just five in the first half) as defensive midfielder Will Setterfield paid him close attention around stoppages. Their victory ensures Gold Coast will finish the round in the top eight, with a game in hand. The Suns and Bombers meet again later this year to play the Opening Round match that was postponed because of flooding in Bombers will be hoping to bounce back against Richmond at the MCG next Saturday night. Gold Coast will host ladder-leading Collingwood in a sold-out prime-time clash at People First Stadium on Friday night. Gold Coast are a step closer to realising their dream of playing AFL finals for the first time after seeing off a young Essendon outfit by 41 points. The Suns had their noses in front at every change before putting their foot to the floor in a dominant final quarter, winning 18.7 (115) to 11.8 (74) at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. Defender Joel Jeffrey was outstanding for the Suns, finishing with a career-high 32 disposals, while skipper Noah Anderson (30 disposals and two goals) and John Noble (29 disposals) continued their excellent form. Gold Coast's talls proved a handful for the Bomber defence all day, with emerging forward Ethan Read kicking a career-best three goals in the first half and Ben King finishing with four of his the other end of the ground, Essendon's young key forwards Nate Caddy and Archer May each kicked three goals, including a pair of stellar long bombs from outside 50, in what could be a key pairing for years to come. But while Essendon were able to match the Suns' intensity for the first three quarters, they fell away badly in the final term, as the Suns piled on six goals to none in a dominant finish. Tough nut Matt Rowell was kept quiet in his 100th game, registering 15 disposals (including just five in the first half) as defensive midfielder Will Setterfield paid him close attention around stoppages. Their victory ensures Gold Coast will finish the round in the top eight, with a game in hand. The Suns and Bombers meet again later this year to play the Opening Round match that was postponed because of flooding in Bombers will be hoping to bounce back against Richmond at the MCG next Saturday night. Gold Coast will host ladder-leading Collingwood in a sold-out prime-time clash at People First Stadium on Friday night.
Perth Now
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Suns rise over Bombers to keep finals dreams on track
Gold Coast are a step closer to realising their dream of playing AFL finals for the first time after seeing off a young Essendon outfit by 41 points. The Suns had their noses in front at every change before putting their foot to the floor in a dominant final quarter, winning 18.7 (115) to 11.8 (74) at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. Defender Joel Jeffrey was outstanding for the Suns, finishing with a career-high 32 disposals, while skipper Noah Anderson (30 disposals and two goals) and John Noble (29 disposals) continued their excellent form. Gold Coast's talls proved a handful for the Bomber defence all day, with emerging forward Ethan Read kicking a career-best three goals in the first half and Ben King finishing with four of his the other end of the ground, Essendon's young key forwards Nate Caddy and Archer May each kicked three goals, including a pair of stellar long bombs from outside 50, in what could be a key pairing for years to come. But while Essendon were able to match the Suns' intensity for the first three quarters, they fell away badly in the final term, as the Suns piled on six goals to none in a dominant finish. Tough nut Matt Rowell was kept quiet in his 100th game, registering 15 disposals (including just five in the first half) as defensive midfielder Will Setterfield paid him close attention around stoppages. Their victory ensures Gold Coast will finish the round in the top eight, with a game in hand. The Suns and Bombers meet again later this year to play the Opening Round match that was postponed because of flooding in Bombers will be hoping to bounce back against Richmond at the MCG next Saturday night. Gold Coast will host ladder-leading Collingwood in a sold-out prime-time clash at People First Stadium on Friday night.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Re-signed Rowell sets sights on striking Gold for Suns
Star midfielder Matt Rowell is determined to propel Gold Coast to a maiden AFL premiership after officially re-signing with the Suns for another two years. One of the best players off-contract in the AFL, the former No.1 draft pick has turned down big offers to return to his home state of Victoria in a major win for Gold Coast. Talent has drained out of the Suns since their inception in 2011, with Collingwood, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs all meeting with Rowell about a move during this year's trade period. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gold Coast SUNS ☀️ (@gcsuns) But the 24-year-old is staying put alongside his long-time friend and Gold Coast captain Noah Anderson, until at least the end of 2027. "I love this club and the opportunities I have had to develop as a person and player on the Gold Coast," Rowell said. "There's a real hunger for success from everyone at the club. We're not shying away from the fact we want to play finals and win premierships, and that's something I'm excited to be part of. "We are building something special. "We want to win and make the Gold Coast community proud, and I'm looking forward to playing my role in achieving that in the years to come." After injury hampered the early stages of his career in 2020 and 2021, Rowell has strung together 93 consecutive matches. He has formed a lethal midfield mix with Anderson and Touk Miller, putting the Suns in contention to play finals this year for the first time. "Matt has been an important part of our midfield for a number of seasons and it's fantastic for him to have signed on for a further two seasons," Suns talent and strategy boss Craig Cameron said.
