Police Reveal How They Identified Suspect After Brutal Hammer and Shooting Attack on Toronto CEO’s Family

A wealthy Toronto family was left traumatized after three armed intruders allegedly stormed their home in the middle of the night, shooting family members and attacking them with a hammer. The shocking incident happened at the Bridle Path residence of real estate executive David Morton, and investigators have now revealed how they identified one of the men accused of carrying out the violent home invasion.

The attack took place at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near Post Road and Hyde Park Circle in Toronto. According to police, three masked men armed with firearms and a hammer forced their way into the property through a rear entrance. They reportedly made their way upstairs, where they confronted Morton, his wife Doriana Zohil-Morton, 64, and their two adult daughters, aged 26 and 28. The intruders allegedly demanded valuables before a violent confrontation erupted.

Gunfire was exchanged inside the home, leaving David Morton and his two daughters with gunshot wounds. Police also said that Morton and his wife were struck with a hammer. All four family members were taken to hospital. In a statement following the attack, Morton described the experience as terrifying and life-threatening, saying that the place where his family should have felt safest had become the scene of a horrific assault. Two family members reportedly suffered life-altering injuries.

The investigation took an unexpected turn when police learned that a man with a gunshot wound had arrived at St. Joseph’s Health Centre shortly after the home invasion. The man was later identified as 23-year-old Daijohn Richards. Investigators believe he was accidentally shot in the shoulder by one of his accomplices during the struggle inside the house. Officers spoke with him at the hospital, but they did not arrest him at that time because they had not yet established a sufficient connection between him and the attack.

After Richards was released from hospital, detectives continued gathering evidence through neighborhood inquiries and forensic examinations. Those investigative steps eventually helped police link him to the crime. Toronto police defended their initial decision not to arrest him immediately, explaining that simply suspecting someone is not enough to justify an arrest. Investigators said they needed evidence establishing reasonable grounds before taking further legal action.

Richards is now wanted under a Canada-wide warrant and faces multiple charges, including four counts of robbery with a firearm, four counts of discharging a firearm with intent to wound, three counts of aggravated assault, break and enter, possession of a prohibited device and disguise with intent. Police have also warned that he and the two other unidentified suspects are considered armed and dangerous. The other two men remain at large, and investigators are appealing to the public for information that could help locate them.

For the Morton family, the physical injuries are only part of the ordeal. Being attacked inside their own home has left them facing a difficult recovery, while the search for the remaining suspects continues. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Toronto Police Hold-Up Squad. As the investigation develops, authorities are working to establish the full sequence of events and bring everyone involved before the courts.

Source: https://people.com/toronto-police-reveal-how-they-id-suspect-in-brutal-attack-at-ceos-home-12231316