A 14-year-old boy arrested after an elderly woman was allegedly stabbed and killed in Pickering is facing a first-degree murder charge.
The Durham Regional Police Service issued an update on the alleged incident on Friday, May 30, 2025, confirming the first-degree murder charge and that the suspect is 14 years old, not 13 years old, as previously reported by police.
This charge has not been proven in court.
On Friday, police said the accused teen from Pickering was held for a bail hearing. Police also said the victim’s name is being withheld at the request of the family.
Investigators also asked anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact Det. Barrette at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5412 or Det. Kristy MacKinnon from the homicide unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2529.
As previously reported by police, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at about 3:05 p.m., the service said members of its West Division responded to the Lynn Heights Drive and Fairport Road area for an “unknown trouble call.”
“A passerby found an elderly female on the ground outside a residence suffering from traumatic injuries,” said police, in their previous release following the alleged incident. “The victim was transported to a Toronto-area trauma centre where she was pronounced deceased.”
Through video footage, police said they discovered that the female was outside when she was approached by a suspect. After a brief encounter, the suspect allegedly attacked the victim, stabbing her multiple times, reported police, in their previous release.
The accused fled eastbound on Lynn Heights Drive prior to police arrival, said the service.
The public first heard of an incident in the area as an “Alert Ready” message was issued by OPP asking residents in the area to shelter-in-place. Police said the alert was to minimize any risk to public safety and is no longer in effect.
Officers from multiple units, including Air1, drone, K9 and tactical support conducted an extensive search of the area to locate the suspect, and at about 8:30 p.m., the suspect was found and taken into custody without incident, reported police.
In a post on X, the service also said: “Our thoughts remain with the victim and her family.”
The service is thanking the public for its help with their investigation and search efforts.
Police are also reminding the public that information pertaining to this investigation can also be shared anonymously through Durham Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca, where tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Police said this death marks Durham Region’s second homicide in 2025.