Scarborough residents reveal grisly details of crossbow deaths crime scene

Almost five minutes of screaming broke the usually quiet Scarborough neighbourhood Thursday afternoon before a deathly silence settled over the Lawndale Road home where three people were pronounced dead from crossbow injuries once paramedics arrived.

A source with knowledge of the investigation said it's believed all three victims — two men and a woman — are related, but police haven't yet revealed their identities.

• Police say 3 found dead in garage had crossbow injuries
• Police evacuate Queens Quay condo over suspicious package

Brett Ryan, 35, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and was scheduled to appear in court this morning.

Police say they found a crossbow in the garage, alongside three bodies and other things they say may have been used as weapons.

Across the street, the neighbour who called 911 said a man came to his door just after 1 p.m. ET, frantically yelling for help.  

'My brother is bleeding'

"There was a banging on the door," said the neighbour, who didn't want his name used.

"Somebody was really pounding on it. I opened the door, and this gentleman almost fell on me. I sort of carried him half into the living room and he fell down on the floor. He said, 'Call 911, my brother is bleeding in the driveway, make sure the police come.'"

The neighbour called 911 and then went across the street with a towel to help one of the victims, who was lying in the driveway covered in blood.

Crossbow deaths linked to suspicious package

8 years ago

Duration 1:54

Police confirm there is a link between three deaths in Scarborough and a suspicious package found in downtown Toronto

"I figured if I saw blood spurting out, maybe I would be able to stop the bleeding, but there was too much," the neighbour said. "He seemed to be still alive. His lips were quivering."

The man told CBC News that the woman who died Thursday was "a good neighbour" who visited with his wife from time to time. The two had planned to attend the Canadian National Exhibition together this week.

"My wife is pretty upset," said the man.

​Toronto police say the deadly incident occurred in the middle of the day in the residential neighbourhood, near Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue East.

Investigators said later Thursday that there was a link between the Scarborough crime scene and a suspicious package investigation at a Queens Quay condo in downtown Toronto.

They have released few details to the public about either investigation, although Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone said he would like any witnesses to come forward.

A Scarborough neighbour told CBC News that he heard what sounded like a fight from the house behind his while he was in backyard on Thursday afternoon.

"The person was screaming. He didn't say any words. Just screaming and banging," Jerome Cruz said, noting that a woman came out to try to calm the man down. "It was going on for about five minutes …. He was screaming in anger.

"After that, all quiet."