Two 17‑year‑old teenagers, known only by the initials K.A. and R.R., were sentenced to a combined three years for their roles in a contract killing and a series of shootings that unfolded over Canada Day weekend.
The victims of the crime were Sulakshan “Sully” Selvasingam, a 28‑year‑old tow‑truck operator from Pickering, and a number of business owners who were targeted during the shootings. Selvasingam was shot nine times while seated in his white Mercedes SUV at a Shell gas station on Warden Ave. and Ellesmere Rd. on July 6, 2024.
The murder was carried out by a friend identified only as A.P., who pleaded guilty to first‑degree murder. A.P.’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for the fall, while K.A. and R.R. received sentences of two years in youth detention and one year under community supervision.
Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell justified the sentences by citing the profound impact on Selvasingam’s family and the broader sense of safety lost in the community. She noted that the teens’ actions undermined public confidence and that the punishment should reflect the seriousness of the offenses.
On July 5, the trio was in a stolen car near Kennedy Commons plaza when A.P. received a call assigning the hit. The following day, K.A. and A.P. scouted the area, while R.R. drove in a separate stolen vehicle. They later separated, with R.R. waiting at a prearranged spot before K.A. and A.P. proceeded to the Shell station.
After the murder, K.A. and R.R. assisted in disposing of evidence. They dropped the stolen car’s license plates into a sewer drain and then set the vehicle on fire to destroy forensic traces and help A.P. evade prosecution.
Both teens pleaded guilty to multiple counts of reckless discharge of a firearm. K.A. admitted to eight counts, while R.R. pleaded guilty to ten, reflecting the number of shooting incidents linked to the ongoing tow‑truck dispute.
During the shootings, K.A. fired at six of the eight targeted locations, while R.R. did not discharge a weapon but recorded the events and encouraged K.A. to continue. No injuries were reported, but witnesses were placed at significant risk of harm.
R.R. was granted a six‑month discount for pre‑sentence custody, based on demonstrated remorse, progress during detention, and a lesser role in the crimes. K.A. did not receive the same concession due to his direct involvement in the shootings.
The father of the slain tow‑truck operator, marking the second anniversary of his son’s death, expressed frustration that the youth sentences did not adequately address the loss. He questioned who ordered the hit and felt the teenagers were bearing the blame for a larger conspiracy.
The case underscores the continuing tensions within the local tow‑truck industry and highlights the legal system’s approach to juvenile involvement in violent crimes.
