Second arrest made in Scarborough playground shooting

A second arrest has been made in connection with the daylight shooting of two young sisters at a Scarborough playground in June.

The victims, ages five and nine, were among 16 children gathered at a playground on Alton Towers Circle at around 5 p.m. on June 14 when two armed men opened fire.

Police have said that they believe the shooters were targeting a man who was at a playground with his child at the time but hit the young girls instead.

The five-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to her abdomen while the nine-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the area above her ankle. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

The suspected getaway driver in the shooting, 21-year-old Sheldon Eriya, was arrested in Pickering the following day but two other suspects in the case had remained outstanding.

Police say that one of those suspects, 23-year-old Tarrick Rhoden, was taken into custody in the area of Stanhope Airport Road and North Shore Road in Algonquin Highlands on Wednesday.

They say that he was arrested by members of the Ontario Provincial Police Minden detachment and will appear in court at Old City Hall today.

He is facing a total of 17 charges, including attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault and a number of drug and firearm-related offences.

Vern McPhail, 59, of Brampton, was also arrested on Wednesday and charged with accessory after the fact to commit and indictable offence.

The third suspect, 23-year-old T’Quan Robertson, continues to be wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.

In a news release announcing the arrest of Rhoden, police thanked the community as a whole for being “extremely helpful” with their investigation.

They also warned members of the public not to approach Robertson, who they said is considered “armed and dangerous.”