Fourth teen pleads guilty to 'mass' murder of homeless man in Toronto

A fourth teenager accused in the Fatal attack on Toronto homeless man two years ago he pleaded guilty. The girl, who was 14 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of Kenneth Lee, 59 years old.

Police say 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 aged 13 to 16, were arrested in the hours that followed.

The girls were charged with second-degree murder and a judge recently sent six of them to stand trial on that charge, with the other two to stand trial on a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Three girls have already pleaded guilty in the case – two to manslaughter and one to assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

All of the girls who pleaded guilty are due to appear in court over the coming months to hear their sentences.

A hearing is scheduled next week for those headed to trial.

Police said they believe the teens came together after meeting on social media and came from homes in the Greater Toronto Area. They said three of them had previous interactions with police, while five others had not. Canadian authorities cannot identify them because they are minors.

After the attack, Detective Sgt. Terry Browne of the Toronto Police Service's homicide squad said authorities believe the girls were trying to take a bottle of alcohol from the man.

“I've been in law enforcement 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 are under 16. If that isn't alarming and Shocking, everyone, so we're all in trouble, frankly.”

According to statistics released by the Toronto Police Service, the city reported 71 homicides in 2022, including 17 stabbing deaths. Last year, the city reported 73 homicides, including 24 stabbing deaths.