Timmins Police capture wanted murder suspect who kidnapped his ex-girlfriend

Kwami Garrwood, 21, has been arrested in Timmins following a nearly year-long manhunt after being accused of taking part in a shooting in July that killed one and kidnapped his girlfriend in front of police. Garrwood was arrested by Timmins Regional Police Service Friday during an unrelated drug investigation, according to CP24.

In July 2020, Toronto police were called the intersection of Chester Le Boulevard and Morecambe Gate for a report of a shooting. There they found 43-year-old Andre Charles of Toronto, who was rushed to a nearby trauma unit. There Charles was pronounced dead. According to a crowdfunding campaign launched by Basketball Canada, Charles was a "loving, dedicated father whose (sic) greatest joy was watching his two young and very talented boys, Kobe and Jordan, play on the basketball court."

Toronto Police later arrested two suspects for the murder: Shamar Bailey, 21, and a 16-year-old who could not be identified. Police also issued a warrant for Garrwood, and Garrwood was considered armed and dangerous.

In March 2021, police were called at 3 am to a disturbance in Brampton. When police arrived, they heard screams coming from inside the home and breached the door. They followed the screams to the garage, where they found Garrwood in the front seat and his estranged girlfriend in the back. Police fired at Garrwood, and Garrwood sped off and escaped. The woman was able to escape days later and took a cab to a Peel Regional Police division and sustained "significant" but not life-threatening injuries.

Garrwood has since been transported to Peel and is scheduled to appear in court in Brampton Wednesday. Garrwood faces 1st-degree murder, kidnapping, forcible confinement, aggravated assault, assault, and possession of a loaded or restricted firearm without a licence charges. There is no word yet on bail.