Toronto man sentenced for 2020 shooting incident in Sudbury
A 19-year-old man from Toronto has been sentenced to five years in jail for his role in a 2020 incident on Whittaker Street in which two men were shot.
With time served taken into account, Keyshawn Halovich will spend another two years and three months for his role in the February 2020 shooting.
Six people were arrested following the incident at the Whittaker Street residential complex. A 24-year-old victim was shot in the chest in front of his pregnant girlfriend, and a 25-year-old man was shot in the leg.
Halovich was initially charged with attempted murder, but a second man was found guilty of firing the handgun and sentenced for attempted murder in the spring.
Halovich pled guilty to aggravated assault and weapons possession in March, but his sentencing was delayed until Wednesday.
At the hearing, defence lawyer Robert Beckett said this was Halovich's first offence and it took place while his client was addicted to Percocet taken with cough syrup.
"It's a highly addictive combination," Beckett said.
His client's memory of the event is extremely hazy, Beckett said, adding "his own choices led him here."
However, since his arrest, he has taken counselling and has overcome his addiction. Halovich also has strong family support from his mother and father, as well as his sister.
The fact the incident was out of character, he had shown remorse, is young and has support means he has a chance of turning his life around, the lawyer said. He has been studying to complete high school while in jail.
"He was a good kid growing up," Beckett said. "He's a good young man who fell into a deep hole (but) he's on the road to recovery."
Halovich has been assaulted in jail, including being stabbed, helping him realize he was going down the wrong
"He's had to learn to defend himself," Beckett said.
Assistant Crown attorney Kaely Whillans, while supporting the joint submission for a five-year term, said it's important to remember that Halovich participated in an offence involving an unprovoked attack that led to "severe violence."
Miracle victim survived
"The victim was shot in the chest," Whillans said. "His pregnant girlfriend watched him suffer."
It was a minor miracle the victim survived, she said. The bullet's path missed major organs and arteries, exiting through his arm. A sentence for these types of offences is often 10 years, she added.
But Whillans said there are enough mitigating circumstances – including the fact his mother is Indigenous and delays brought on by COVID-19 – to make the reduced sentence acceptable.
"But nothing less than five years would be appropriate," she said.
Addressing the court, Halovich apologized to the victims and said he has learned a hard lesson.
"This is not the life I want for the future," he said. "I want a better future. I realize I made a bad mistake."
Superior Court Justice Alex Kurke accepted the joint sentencing submission and said Halovich was extremely fortunate the victim survived.
He encouraged him to change his life and become the person his family believes he can be.
"Prove yourself to your mother," Kurke said. "Prove yourself to your sister, who is your biggest fan. I hope to never see you in court again."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.