The father of a tow truck operator who was fatally shot outside a gas station in Scarborough expressed his ongoing grief in court on Monday. He directly addressed a teenager who admitted to the first-degree murder of 28-year-old Sulakshan Selvasingam on July 6, 2024, accusing the teen of taking his son’s life for financial gain. The father, speaking through an interpreter in Tamil, said that the loss of his son remains a constant sorrow for him, his wife, and their daughter, and they will never forget or forgive the tragic event.
During a sentencing hearing in Toronto’s Ontario Superior Court of Justice, it was revealed that the teenager, who was 16 at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty to shooting Selvasingam. The teen’s identity is shielded under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Selvasingam was discovered with gunshot wounds at a gas station near Warden Avenue and Ellesmere Road and was later pronounced dead in the hospital. Toronto police indicated the incident was linked to the tow truck industry.
In addition to the murder charge, the teenager pleaded guilty to 13 counts of reckless discharge of a firearm related to various shootings at GTA establishments between May and July 2024. Evidence presented in court suggested that the teen was recruited by adults who orchestrated both the shootings and the murder of Selvasingam. Despite no physical injuries resulting from the shootings, the Crown stated that Selvasingam’s murder was premeditated, and the teenager engaged in public shootings that caused fear among the public.
The maximum sentence for murder under the Youth Criminal Justice Act is 10 years, with a provision for spending six years in custody and the remainder under community supervision. The Crown proposed an additional four years in custody for the teenager, while the defense requested two more years with double credit for time served to prevent the teen from being transferred to an adult prison, where rehabilitation programs might be limited.
Selvasingam’s sister also shared a victim impact statement, highlighting her brother’s dedication to his family and the profound impact he had on others. She described him as a compassionate and helpful individual who was always willing to assist those in need. The sister mentioned that many friends honored her brother by getting tattoos in his memory, emphasizing his positive influence on those around him.
At the hearing, the teenager apologized to Selvasingam’s family and expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that what he did was wrong and accepting the consequences. The judge is expected to deliver a decision on the case later this month.