A 31-year-old Nigerian man, Adimabua Chukwuka, has been accused of first-degree m8rder in the d3ath of a homeless man in Toronto, Canada.
Local events and activities
Toronto police say they arrested Chukwuka late Friday afternoon, March 21, 2025, a few hours after 60-year-old Mario Ferreira was found d3ad near the University of Toronto campus.
Investigators say they have video of Chukwuka allegedly using debris, possibly from a dumpster or construction site, to repeatedly attack Ferreira while he lay on a bench around 5:20 a.m. on Thursday morning.
“Police have arrested a man alleged to have attacked and k!lled an unhoused man, without warning or provocation thanks to a tip from the public,” the Toronto Police disclosed in a statement.
“On Friday, March 21, 2025, Homicide investigators released a photo of a suspect, and shortly afterwards, Adimabua Chukwuka, 31, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with First Degree M8rder.
“On March 20, police responded to a call from University of Toronto Campus Safety Special Constables regarding a man lying on the ground near 144 College St. on the university grounds. He had visible injuries and was unconscious and not breathing. Mario Ferreira, 60, of Toronto, was pronounced deceased after police, fire and paramedics attended the scene.”
“We are committed to bringing justice to Mr. Ferreira and his loved ones,” added Det.-Sgt. Trevor Grieve. “We are asking anyone who may have seen something, no matter how small, to call immediately.”
Grieve said investigators have been working around the clock to gather evidence and review security footage from the surrounding area.
“We are continuing to canvas for additional video and information,” he said, asking anyone with more footage to contact police.
Based on video footage reviewed so far, the victim was lying on a bench near 6 Queen’s Park Crescent around 5:20 a.m. when the suspect armed himself with debris, possibly from a construction site or nearby dumpster.
“Without warning or provocation the suspect approaches Mr. Ferreira, who is lying on the bench and uses that debris to assault him repeatedly and violently. He then feld the area holding the debris he used to commit the assault.”
He asked anyone in the area at that time to contact Homicide investigators.
“If you were in the Queen’s Park area between 5 and 5:30 a.m. and saw anything suspicious or if you recognize the person in the images we are releasing today, please contact police. Your information is vital.”
The Homicide officer urged the suspect to seek legal counsel and turn himself into police.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Chukwuka has a history of violent criminal charges, including attempted m8rder and assault with a weapon.
Past news releases from Toronto Police show Chukwuka was charged with multiple offences in separate incidents in 2014 and 2022.
He was accused in multiple stabbings in August of 2014 and charged with 10 counts, including attempted m8rder, aggravated assault and failing to comply with probation.
Police laid 10 more charges in April 2022 after two more incidents in which Chukwuka allegedly pulled a knife on a man, stole his cellphone, and stabbed another man twice in the chest during a dispute.
The charges he faced in those cases included possessing a dangerous weapon, assault with a firearm and robbery with a weapon.
The outcome of his various criminal charges was not immediately known.
